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Resident raises safety and congestion concerns after interstate closures; city working with MDOT to ease local impacts
Summary
A Livingston resident asked the commission about traffic that diverts through town when the interstate closes. City staff said they are working with the Montana Department of Transportation to analyze signal timing and that emergency services are aware of detour procedures.
At the start of public comment, resident Shelby of 103 South End Street asked the commission whether the pattern of traffic through Livingston during interstate closures was a long‑term approach or whether the city had other options.
Shelby described seeing congestion and instances she feared could affect response times: "I just saw, like, an ambulance, going down side streets that weren't well plowed," she said, and asked whether the traffic pattern could be improved during closures.
City staff member Mr. Gaither responded that the city has limited authority when the state closes the interstate but that staff are working with the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) to assess whether timing or signal schemes at the three signalized intersections between exits 330 and 337 could be adjusted to move traffic more quickly. "We are actively working, and MDT is analyzing all the different possible configurations to help alleviate the issue," Gaither said. He added that local emergency services — Livingston Police and Livingston Fire Rescue — are aware of the situation and have plans to get through town during incidents.
No formal action resulted from the public comment; staff said the work with MDT is ongoing and framed the efforts as an operational coordination to reduce delays and maintain public safety during interstate closures.
