The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and its partners, Sletten Construction and Morrison-Maierle completed the Timber Bridges-Glasgow project, successfully replacing 16 aging timber bridges across Valley, Daniels and Roosevelt counties in just three years.
Seven timber bridges were replaced in 2023, and eight more were replaced in 2024. Work on the final bridge, the West Fork Poplar River Bridge on Montana Highway 248 (MT 248), 2 mi. east of Richland, was recently completed. Crews also wrapped up finishing work at additional bridge replacement sites.
"Replacing Montana's deteriorating timber bridges is a top priority for MDT, and we are proud to see the completion of this project," said Shane Mintz, MDT Glendive district administrator. "This was the first to use MDT's bridge bundling approach, which allowed us to streamline design and construction. What we learned here is now helping shape similar bridge projects across our state."
The bridge bundling program groups multiple bridge replacement projects under a single contract, streamlining work to save time and taxpayer dollars. Using a design-build contract, consultant design firm Morrison-Maierle worked alongside Sletten Construction from the start of the project, allowing the bundled projects to move more efficiently from design to being construction-ready.
"This project showcases what can be achieved when design and construction teams collaborate from day one," said Jim Scoles, senior bridge engineer, Morrison-Maierle. "The approach not only accelerated project delivery, but also ensured safe, durable structures that will serve communities for decades."
The bridges replaced included structures on U.S. 2 between Hinsdale and Glasgow, Montana Highway 24 (MT 24) between Glasgow and Opheim, Montana Highway 248 (MT 248) between Opheim and Scobey, and Montana Highway 251 (MT 251) between Poplar and Flaxville. Twelve of the timber bridges were replaced with bridge structures, and four others were replaced with concrete box culverts.
"Completing this many bridges in such a short timeframe was no small task," said Russell Robertson, bridge division manager, Sletten Construction. "It speaks to the dedication of our crews, our partnership with Morrison-Maierle and the patience of local communities who supported this work every step of the way."
