Roundabout at George Elmer Drive & Cattle Drive

The City of Missoula's Engineering Division reactivated the roundabout project that was planned for the intersection of George Elmer Dr. and Cattle Dr. The completed roundabout will enhance safety at this intersection, especially for pedestrians and bicyclists crossing George Elmer Drive.

Engineering staff members want to provide the public with updated information. They are happy to answer questions and welcome public comment on the project. Please use the Questions and Comments tabs below to ensure a timely response and to help us track comments. If you would like to receive an email notification when we update the project and this page, please subscribe under Stay Informed.

UPDATE - July 18, 2023

Following routine chip and seal maintenance scheduled for George Elmer Drive in late July/early August, City Streets Operations and Maintenance crews will construct intersection safety improvements. This work is expected to begin the week of August 14 and will consist of pedestrian refuge islands on George Elmer Dr. and tighter turning radii at all intersection corners to reduce vehicular speeds across crosswalks. Due to contractor availability and cost escalation, the proposed pedestrian refuge islands will be constructed out of cost-efficient, quick-build materials that include pre-cast pin-down curbs and washed rock. Temporary striping of the new lane configuration along George Elmer Dr., from Bell Tower Rd. to Pius Way, will be completed as part of the intersection work. Final striping will follow approximately one month later.

The City will maintain two-way traffic along George Elmer Dr. and Cattle Dr. throughout these construction activities.

Interim intersection design plans (July 2023)

UPDATE - September 2, 2022

Public Works & Mobility recently learned that our RAISE Grant request was not selected for funding. As a result, PWM will proceed with interim improvements using the funding that is currently available. These interim improvements include traffic calming and safety enhancements, such as pedestrian refuge islands on George Elmer Drive, crosswalk and bicycle crossing pavement markings, buffered bike lanes along George Elmer Drive north and south of the intersection, and intersection corner delineators and striping to reduce turning speeds. The pedestrian refuge islands will be constructed in their ultimate locations to accommodate a future roundabout.

Interim intersection design

Interim intersection approach striping design plan

Future roundabout design

In addition, the McNett Flats and Heron's Landing subdivisions are both required to install enhanced trail crossings that include striped crosswalks, ADA-compliant ramps, and rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB) lights. We anticipate the McNett's crossing will be installed later this year.

UPDATE - August 3, 2022

The George Elmer Drive/Cattle Drive Roundabout continues to be on hold due to insufficient funding. Since the project's inception over 15 years ago, costs have increased significantly, leading to a large budget shortfall. Public Works & Mobility reevaluated the project in light of new information from the Sxwtpqyen Area Master Plan and the Mullan BUILD Project and decided that the roundabout, while we still want to install it in the future, it is not needed right now to safely manage traffic. The primary benefit of a roundabout at this location would be to slow traffic and make it easier for pedestrians and bikes to cross George Elmer Drive. A roundabout is not currently necessary to manage traffic flow.

PWM continues to seek funding for the project, including a recent federal Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant that would help complete this project and other portions of the Mullan BUILD Project. If successful, the RAISE Grant would fully fund the Cattle Drive Roundabout and allow construction in the next 2 to 3 years. We expect to hear about the RAISE Grant this fall.

In the meantime, PWM is pursuing several interim measures. First, the McNett Flats and Heron's Landing subdivisions are both required to install enhanced trail crossings, which include striped crosswalks, ADA-compliant ramps, and rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB) lights. We anticipate the McNett's crossing will be installed later this year. Second, PWM has designed intersection improvements for Cattle Drive that include pedestrian crossing islands to enhance safety until the roundabout can be funded and installed. If the RAISE Grant is unsuccessful, we will move ahead with these improvements next spring.

PWM met with representatives from the Flynn Ranch and 44 Ranch homeowners associations earlier this summer. We will follow up with those groups and the Neighborhood Council when we know more about the RAISE Grant this fall. Thank you for your patience. Please feel free to reach out with any questions.

UPDATE - April 1, 2022

The roundabout project is on hold for the time being. We are looking for the intersection improvements to go in another direction in the short and mid-terms. However, we do plan on finalizing an infrastructure design concept soon and then later this month taking the information to homeowners associations, developers who may contribute funding, and the Neighborhood Council to get their thoughts.

UPDATE - September 3, 2021

The project's engineering consultant has completed plans at a 90% design level. We expect to see released for construction plans in a few weeks and will look to advertise the construction portion of the project this year. We may not be able to begin construction this year, we will continue to move this project along as quickly as possible.

UPDATE - September 30, 2020

After receiving several questions and comments about this project, City Engineer Kevin Slovarp provided the following additional information:

The water feature at its current height blocks the visibility of a pedestrian crossing Cattle Drive from north to south from the driver of a vehicle traveling east on Cattle Drive to the intersection with George Elmer Drive (GED). The water feature also "hides" vehicles approaching and within the GED intersection from the driver of a vehicle traveling east on Cattle Drive. The water feature is planned to be modified to a lower height to allow for the sight visibility hazard to be mitigated and allow for the safe travel of pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists at and through the intersection. The pedestrian visibility issue is not a major concern at this time as this west leg of the intersection is currently controlled with a stop sign. The roundabout is needed for access control and a higher form of access control (roundabout from stop-control) is needed at this intersection to effectively serve 44 Ranch and Flynn Ranch residents. Without the proposed roundabout, access to/from GED will become more and more difficult as additional development occurs both north and south of this intersection. Some of those developments are in the City’s subdivision review process now. At this time, the plan is for the water feature to remain a water feature, but lower in height, and the adjacent sign modified enough for the sight visibility concerns to be successfully mitigated.

The proposed roundabout has another intended function rather than just access control. It also allows additional pedestrian safety when crossing GED. The center medians will provide a pedestrian refuge and reduce the length of pedestrian crossing distance. This is especially important as 44 Ranch 5-acre park draws residents from the Flynn Ranch development.

The City is planning on undertaking these proposed intersection improvements to proactively increase the safety of all people walking, riding, or driving at this intersection.

The center of the proposed roundabout is desired to be landscaped and not just a big concrete circle. The City will either need to take maintenance responsibilities for the planned landscaping or the HOA, residents of 44 Ranch, and/or Flynn Ranch will need to do so. If the HOA or residents take over the landscaping maintenance duties, it could likely be designed to what the residents desire, more aesthetically pleasing, and/or maintained to the degree the residents desire.

In addition to the intersection improvements at Mullan and GED, the BUILD Grant project is constructing additional non-motorized infrastructure to both sides of GED between 44 Ranch and Mullan Road.

Another aspect of the BUILD Grant project and physical construction of street improvements is a planned reduction of the current speed limit from 45 mph to 30 mph.

For more information on the BUILD Grant project, please visit https://www.missoulacounty.us/government/community-development/community-planning-services/planning-projects/build-grant.

Information on the Mullan Area Master Plan is available at https://www.mullanareamasterplan.com/home, and there is an Engage Missoula topic for the plan at https://www.engagemissoula.com/mullan-area-master-plan.

Current Status

The City is moving forward with the project because access to the area and safety need to be improved before upcoming housing construction projects begin in the area. The original plans for the project are being revised and updated, and construction is expected to begin as soon as the design is finalized and weather permits.

There have been concerns about the status of the water feature currently installed on the west side of the intersection. In order to mitigate sight visibility hazards, comply with sight visibility requirements, and have the future roundabout function as intended, the water feature must be lowered to a height of less than 30 inches. Lowering the water feature will be part of the project.

This project will be funded using both developer and City contributions.

Background

Design and construction of the roundabout was required as City Council conditions of approval for the 44 Ranch and Flynn Ranch subdivisions. Unfortunately, conflicts over design elements left the project only partially complete for many years.