Montana

Report identifies 80 Montana bridges rated “structurally deficient”

Published

2 years ago

August 12, 2023

Report identifies 80 Montana bridges rated “structurally deficient”

AUGUSTA — For years, federal and state leaders have been talking about a backlog of needed maintenance on infrastructure – and while more investments are going into roads and bridges, a lot of work remains.

Scripps News has gone through data from the Federal Highway Administration and identified more than 14,000 bridges nationwide that have been listed in poor condition for the last ten years. Bridges in poor condition are not necessarily at immediate risk, but they may require weight limits and more frequent inspections.

MTN News

In Montana, that list included 81 bridges rated “structurally deficient” in either their deck, substructure or superstructure. They range from Lincoln County in the west to Wibaux County in the east, and they include everything from Interstates and federal highways to local streets and forest roads.

One of the listed bridges can be found on the Rocky Mountain Front, near the mouth of the Sun River Canyon west of Augusta. The one-lane bridge over the Sun River dates back to 1916. In a description on a federal website, leaders describe it as “structurally deficient and functionally obsolete,” and say its “poor condition and outdated design pose safety hazards and limitations to users.”

The Federal Highway Administration says the Sun River Bridge was initially intended primarily to serve the Greenfields Irrigation District, but it’s also used by residents, first responders and outfitters, among others. They are currently in the planning process to build a new bridge that will meet today’s design standards.

The federal bridge data for this state comes from the Montana Department of Transportation.

“All of our bridges have regular inspection cycles, and that varies depending on the condition that we find,” said Ryan Dahlke, MDT’s statewide preconstruction engineer.

Dahlke said MDT is using all the resources available to address infrastructure needs. He said a lot of factors go into deciding which projects are prioritized.

“The condition of the structure, cost, alternate detour routes, impact to the commerce – all of those things, just to name a few, are considered,” he said. “But above all, safety is our number-one priority – ensuring safety of the traveling public through our great state.”

During this year’s Montana legislative session, lawmakers looked at several ways to make more money available for road and bridge projects.

“In Montana, if we were to address every need that we had every year, we’d probably have $1 billion of need in reconstruction and maintenance and rehabbing roads and bridges, and what we have on an annual budget with our federal match is about $400 million,” said Rep. Courtenay Sprunger, R-Kalispell. “So there’s a big backlog growing.”

Sprunger sponsored House Bill 267, known as the SAFER Act – a bill that put $100 million from the state surplus into a new state account, where it will be used as matching funds to secure more federal grants.

“It truly is helping tackle deferred maintenance – significant deferred maintenance – and it can make a gigantic difference in getting where you need to go safely and efficiently,” she said.

The Legislature also approved Senate Bill 536, sponsored by Sen. Greg Hertz, R-Polson, which allocated $100 million to support reconstruction and repairs to local roads and bridges.

Sprunger said one particular challenge for Montana will be upgrading more than 400 timber bridges – many of which are on county roads. She said the state has to comply with new federal standards for those bridges, but the federal government didn’t provide funding to address the issue.

Wolf Creek Bridge — A bridge over Little Prickly Pear Creek in Wolf Creek is still listed as structurally deficient because of the condition of its deck. However, the bridge received a new deck in 2022 as part of a large construction project in the area.

The 81 structurally deficient bridges Scripps News identified in Montana were one of the lowest number of any state – compared with more than 1,000 in Iowa and Pennsylvania. In addition, some of the Montana bridges are already receiving attention. In Wolf Creek, a bridge over Little Prickly Pear Creek is still listed with a deck in poor condition, but it got a new deck last year as part of a large construction project.

The Federal Highway Administration says the Sun River Bridge project is currently its development and design phase. Construction could begin as soon as spring 2025.

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Montana

Montana Lottery Mega Millions, Lucky For Life results for March 28, 2025

Published

1 hour ago

March 29, 2025

Press Room

The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at March 28, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from March 28 drawing

02-09-31-60-63, Mega Ball: 23, Megaplier: 5

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from March 28 drawing

10-15-23-31-40, Lucky Ball: 18

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from March 28 drawing

01-09-28-29, Bonus: 16

Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form. Our News Automation and AI team would love to hear from you. Take this survey and share your thoughts with us.

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Montana

Montana Senate debates wolf management bills

Published

13 hours ago

March 28, 2025

Press Room

Montana Senate debates wolf management bills

HELENA — The Montana Senate debated several House Bills Friday that could have a big impact on wolf management in the Treasure State.

The first bill heard was House Bill 176, sponsored by Rep. Shannon Maness, R-Dillon, which would require unlimited wolf hunting if the wolf population was over 550 animals statewide. The bill does provide for an exemption to the quota in the area around Yellowstone National Park.

(Watch to see legislators debate wolf management at the Montana Capitol)

Montana Senate debates wolf management bills

A 2023 Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks report estimated the state’s wolf population at around 1,100 animals.

Proponents of the legislation say it is needed because they don’t believe the current wolf management in the state is working.

“The supporters of wolves, nor the [Montana] Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks have offered any alternatives,” said Sen. Vince Ricci, R-Billings. “And so I think these bills are kind of forced on us because of the lack of support from FWP or the people that are supporters of the wolves not bringing any alternatives.”

Opponents of HB 176 say it’s applying methodology too broadly when the majority of the wolf population is located in northwestern Montana.

“I think it’s kind of misdirected a little bit and maybe too broad,” said Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers, D-Belgrade. “And I think there’s a different way to approach this. I know the sponsors have been frustrated by the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission not being responsive. That’s a different story. But I think that’s where the solution could lie on this still.”

HB 176 narrowly passed second reading 26 to 24.

The next bill debated was HB 258, which requires the wolf hunting season extended through the current spring bear hunting season.

Proponents say it is needed to better manage the populations, while opponents say it would have a much larger impact than intended because the spring is when wolves den and raise their young.

HB 258 passed 30 to 20

The last wolf bill on the agenda, HB 259, would require the Fish and Wildlife Commission to adjust management techniques based on the conditions of the region. It also allows the commission to authorize the use of infrared scopes or thermal imagery scopes on private land.

HB 259 passed 32 to 18.

HB 176, HB 258 and HB 259 still need to pass a third reading before clearing the Senate chamber. Since the bills were amended in the Senate, they will be transmitted back to the House if they pass third reading.

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Montana Premium Processing receives grant to accelerate smokehouse construction

Published

1 day ago

March 28, 2025

Press Room

Montana Premium Processing receives grant to accelerate smokehouse construction

HAVRE — Montana Premium Processing Co-Op in Havre is rapidly expanding. Founded in 2023, the co-op allows ranchers to process their livestock for retail without suffering a profit cut found with middlemen packing plants.

WATCH:

Montana Premium Processing receives grant to accelerate smokehouse construction

“MTTP was set up to where you join as a member. And that, membership gives you first rights to the hook space that’s available,” says Chief of Staff with the Montana farmer’s Union, Matt Rains. “Plus voting rights and the right to be on the board of directors. So, all the board of directors are members, and thus these individuals who drop off animals and have them harvested have a vested interest to make sure that MTPP runs smoothly.”

In 2024, its first full year, MTTP processed 398,918 pounds of protein, and is now on track for increased output thanks to a $50,000 Growth Through Agriculture Grant courtesy of the Montana Department of Agriculture.

The grant will be used toward accelerating the construction of an on-site smokehouse – think smoked sausages, salamis, hams and more.

The facility will be built at the rear of the building and measure 20×20 feet in space. It will also have its own cooler.

“We’ve had several hog producers and they’re desperate for it because there just aren’t very many smokehouse’s on the Hi-Line. There’s a few, but it’s very limited capacity,” says General Manager of MTPP, Bill Jones.

The co-op had originally planned to fund the smokehouse entirely themselves, which they expected would take up to three years.

This injection of $50,000 secured not only funding for the smokehouses’s construction, but also for the installation of its equipment.

“It’s going to shorten what we figured would be a two or three-year project down to literally probably under a year,” says Jones.

“It was definitely across the board, a guaranteed slam dunk win for the state,” adds Rains.

The added value of the smokehouse also includes the job sector, as MTPP anticipates a number of jobs will open as a result of the addition.

“We’ll add at least two, if not three employees immediately when we add the value added [smokehouse] room and then be able to add maybe another three beyond that,” says Jones.

He’s aiming to add between five and seven new staff.

Simultaneously, MTPP is constructing a new, larger cooler to drip their slaughter. The construction is funded by a USDA-backed loan from Bear Paw Development. The current drip cooler in use now, will become an aging cooler.

In total, the Growth Through Agriculture Grant program secured $915,360 for 25 agricultural businesses throughout Montana.

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