Mayor John Engen says Missoula is 'sound' as city advances infrastructure, housing and transit projects

Mayor John Engen told the Chamber of Commerce in Feb. 2008 that "the state of the city is sound," outlining infrastructure projects, public-safety investments and housing initiatives as Missoula plans for growth.

Engen highlighted completed and ongoing street and sewer projects intended to improve traffic flow and serve new development, including a new section of England Boulevard, a North-South link on George Elmer Drive and planned reconstruction on Miller Creek Road. He said the city has new sewer mains under construction to serve commercial properties at the Wye and future homes.

The mayor described a pilot wastewater effort that uses hybrid poplar trees to absorb nutrients from effluent land application. "If this 3 acre trial is successful it could keep effluent out of the river, grow trees that…