| Concern about structures between Cedar and Capital Interchanges |
- Currently 28' twin structures. Hourly volumes will increase. 1400 - 1600 DHV.
- No improvements scheduled for this section.
- Decisions have been political.
- To mitigate issue: Can eliminate queuing by installing temporary ramp metering.
- Can get a good balance utilizing modeling.
- Roll-in structures.
- Very narrow structures, will probably not accommodate two way traffic.
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- Temporary ramp metering will likely create other issues on arterial streets - Custer, Cedar, and Washington.
- Roll-in structures are more expensive but have a very short construction duration.
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| Emergency response capabilities |
- Volunteer Fire Department on Forestvale. Helena Fire Department has station located at Civic Center and between the 11th Avenue/Prospect Ave. Couplet. Sierra Road will provide access to east side.
- Temporary access on Interstate for emergency response vehicles may be beneficial ambulance route.
- Temporary ramp at Forestvale with a gate?
- Public outreach for emergency response services.
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- Can accommodate on west side of interstate with extension of Forestvale from Montana Ave. to Interstate. State owns the Right of Way.
- Will need to realign Frontage Road on east side of interstate in proximity to Forestvale.
- There is a process for FHWA to review temporary access requests.
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| Controllers on Montana Avenue |
- Considering going to new controllers and cabinets.
- Maintain compatibility.
- Windows based software.
- Trying to reuse existing signal equipment.
- Closed loop capability will be in place.
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Signal timings can be changed immediately from a remote location. |
| Work Zone Safety |
- Reduced speed limit.
- With a flagger a 35 mph speed limit will be used.
- Consider variable speed sign (change based on type of work and hourly volumes).
- Ohio cannot use variable speed limit because of code.
- Enforcement plan - empty car, dummy.
- Use radar camera in Oregon.
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- Need to check to see if variable speed limit can be used in Montana.
- The use of a variable speed sign may encourage better compliance.
- Highway patrol is not well equipped. Troopers have not been willing to work the project because it is overtime. Work zone safety enforcement is more dangerous.
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| Raised median on Custer |
- Critical from Operational and Safety standpoint.
- Tight signal spacing - set access limits from Washington to Montana.
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This may not be popular to existing businesses. |
| Detour |
- Traffic control plan discussion with local police.
- Consider wireless cameras for emergency response through detour corridor (used on Ohio, Bozeman, Big Sky).
- Web-based ITS technology permanent or temporary options.
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Can get more effective response to emergencies. Reasonably inexpensive and easy to use. |
| Phased Construction |
- Phase 1 Projects
- Realign Frontage Road.
- Widen Cedar Street.
- mprove Detour Routes (primarily intersections).
- Extend Sanders Street North and South.
- Phase 2 Projects
- Ramp C3 and Auxiliary Lane.
- Ramp C4 and Auxiliary Lane.
- Fill for Ramps C1 and C2.
- Check Traffic Patterns at Montana/Custer and Custer/Washington Intersections for Interim Conditions.
- Check Grades.
- Phase 3 From an Optimal Maintenance of Traffic View (Priority Order):
- Rebuild Custer Bridge on a New Alignment.
- Rebuild Custer Prefab Off-Site and Replace with 45 to 60 Day Closure.
- Rebuild Custer Partial Width Bridge on a New Alignment.
- Rebuild Custer on Existing Alignment with Single Construction Season.
- Use of Incentives/Disincentives for Critical Path/Closure Periods.
- Cedar, Frontage, Ramps, Auxiliary Lanes Night construction will not impact residential areas.
- Fill may come from north and east?
- Can break project into small parts.
- Analysis of Existing Pavement Cross-section on Freeway with Regards to Load Carrying Capacity May Necessitate Construction of Auxiliary Lanes Early.
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- With improvements completed, traffic will detour to other less congested routes and routes without construction activity.
- Will provide an additional north/south route taking pressure off of Montana Avenue.
- Phase 2 could come after the phase 3 project. Build the bridge first and then the ramps. This is preferred.
- This may not be beneficial with the detour route for Custer Avenue traffic. Could create more conflicts at Custer/Montana and Custer/Washington. Needs to be investigated more thoroughly as to its true benefit.
- Bringing fill in for ramps after the bridge is reopened.
- Ramp construction will help with construction equipment traffic.
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| Incentive/Disincentive |
- A+B.
- Lane rentals.
- Portion of contract to have incentive/disincentive.
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| Extension of Sanders as an alternate route for detour |
- Sanders can tie into roadway at cemetery. (about 2 blocks)
- Sanders extension from Custer to Cedar.
- Relocate signal on Cedar from Harris to Sanders.
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- Landowner may be oppositional to the extension from Custer to Cedar.
- Post Office main access is off of Harris, may have opposition.
- Signal at Sanders instead of Harris is better for signal coordination and spacing issues along Cedar Street. Would be better for overall area.
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| Prefabricate bridge off site |
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- Equipment is hard to get.
- Requires special contracting.
- High mobilization costs.
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| Local community advocates to help sell the project |
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| Traffic Management Plan |
- Determine Operational Improvements Needed on Detour Routes.
- Sanders Street Extension.
- Custer/Montana.
- Custer/Washington. Cedar/Washington. Cedar/Montana Intersections.
- Realignment of Frontage Road.
- Use of dynamic lane utilization/signalization for different times of day.
- Dedicated Staff for Monitoring and Maintenance of Traffic Signal Operations During Construction.
- Developing a Public Information/Outreach Campaign is Critical.
- Visualization.
- Clear Single Source.
- Continuous Communication.
- Project Website (Potential Camera Link).
- Courtesy Patrol.
- Coordination with Emergency Response During Detour Planning
- Continuous Updating During Construction.
- Consider Temporary Direct Access to I-15.
- Use of ITS (wireless cameras) for incident monitoring/response.
- Discuss with Law Enforcement and Towing Companies for Expedited Response to Incidents on Detour Routes.
- Establish Coordination with MDT Traffic Staff During Incidents and Determine Clear Chain of Command for Decision Making.
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- Have not used in Montana before, could create driver confusion. Investigate further. One concern is resources in traffic engineering. This is a new concept but worth looking into. By the time project is built should have experienced staff to dedicate to the project.
- Do we have enough bandwidth?? Will need to be coordinated with ISD.
- This would be the first time it would be implemented in Montana. May be beneficial to try on a project before trying on a corridor wide basis.
- Once have temporary access, locals may push for permanent emergency access.
- Traffic section staff will need to have some authority on the construction project. May not be well received by project manager.
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| Access Management |
- Preservation of Limited Access in Interchange Area is Critical from the Standpoint of Safety and Operation.
- At a Minimum Limited Access Shall be Maintained Between Sanders and Washington Through the Use of Raised Median.
- Limited Access Should be Considered From Montana Through Washington.
- Extending Sanders St. North Improves Internal Circulation and Reduces Access Demand Off of Custer and North Montana.
- East-West Connections from Sanders to the Existing Development to the west is Needed.
- Closely Spaced Signals Cause Coordination, Congestion and Safety Issues.
- Additional Signals on Custer and Washington Should be Strongly Discouraged.
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| Safety |
- Potential Use of Variable Speed Limits.
- Using Variable Display Technology.
- Work Zone Safety Enforcement.
- Partnership with Law Enforcement.
- Potential Use of Photo Radar.
- Tie Wireless Cameras to Emergency Response Center.
- Frontage Road Design Speed Should Be 45 Miles Per Hour.
- Safety Issues on Existing Frontage Road.
- Serves as a Collector Roadway.
- Consider the Use of Barrier on I-15 for Abutment and Pier Construction (To Protect Work Site).
- Short Weave Section Between Ramps C3 and D4.
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- Legislation required.
- Coordination with ISD and the city.
- Landowners and developers will most likely be opposed.
- Auxiliary lane is necessary to operate.
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| System Level Planning |
- Detailed Funding Study and Interim Condition Study Are Necessary.
- Strategy of How Maintenance of Traffic can be Provided for the Future Improvements.
- Will Railroad Bridges to South be Constructible Under Future Traffic?
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