Silver Bow County public works committee pauses tunnel review, approves local traffic and wildlife signage

Silver Bow County Public Works Committee members on April 9, 2025 voted to hold a status review of a pedestrian tunnel under Harrison Avenue, approved a plan to add traffic signage near Beef Trail Road and Ski Area Loop, and recorded that the Montana Department of Transportation will install wildlife crossing signs along Montana Highway 2.

The actions came during a meeting chaired by Chairman Mankins, with Commissioners Joshua O'Neil, Bill Boyle, Russell O'Leary and Commissioner Healy present; Commissioner Callahan was absent. Director Neary, Public Works director, gave the committee the updates staff had received from external agencies and the local homeowners association.

Why it matters: the items concern pedestrian safety, intersection visibility and animal-vehicle collisions on routes used by residents, daycare centers and seasonal traffic. The committee’s decisions leave one item pending while creating short-term steps for two others.

Discussion and outcomes

Harrison Avenue pedestrian tunnel: The committee heard that the county has asked the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) to conduct a traffic count and study of the walking-trail tunnel under Harrison Avenue, south of Dickies Barbecue. "There isn't anything new to this communication. I've asked MDT to do a, traffic count slash study in that area," Director Neary said, adding, "They're claiming that the, crosswalk that is there now is sufficient." Neary also told the committee he had no estimated completion date for the study.

After the update Chairman Mankins called for a motion to hold the file pending MDT’s study. The committee voted to hold the item in abeyance until Director Neary returns with MDT’s results. No completion date was provided in the meeting record; the committee did not set a deadline.

Beach/Beef Trail Road and Ski Area Loop signage: Commissioners reported a meeting with representatives of Beech Trail Estates Homeowners Association and Vigilante Estates’ road representatives about safety at the intersection of Beef Trail Road and Ski Area Loop. Commissioner Russell O'Leary said the county and the HOA agreed on a plan for signage and short-term surface treatment. "The cattle guard that's currently on Beef Trail Road ... is eventually going to come out. And the concern there is that when that ... comes out ... people will speed even more than they already do," O'Leary said. The committee discussed adding "traffic entering" signage, a possible blind-hill sign, double-arrow warning signs along Beef Trail Road and placing additional sand on the county-maintained portion of the roadway to reduce sliding.

Director Neary said most of the signage along the county-maintained portion of Beef Trail Road will be installed by county crews, while additional signs farther down Ski Area Loop lie on private streets under HOA control. The committee moved to place that communication on file and note; the motion passed.

Wildlife crossing signs on Highway 2: On the request to investigate wildlife-crossing signage from Porter Avenue to Continental Drive on Montana Highway 2, Director Neary told the committee that MDT will install wildlife crossing signs on Highway 2. "Highway 2 is an MDT route ... they're gonna put up wildlife crossing signs ahead," Neary said, adding there will be signs in both northbound and southbound directions to warn drivers of wildlife ahead. The committee voted to place that communication on file and noted the planned MDT action.

Other items: At the end of the meeting Commissioner Healy raised speeding concerns on Grand Avenue near a daycare on the west end; Chairman Mankins directed that commissioners bring the matter forward as a separate communication after further discussion with Director Neary. No formal action on Grand Avenue occurred at this meeting.

What remains: The tunnel under Harrison Avenue remains pending MDT’s traffic-count study; the committee did not set a date for follow-up. County crews will install signage and temporary surface measures on county-maintained sections of Beef Trail Road; the HOA will handle signs on private streets. MDT indicated it will install wildlife signage on Highway 2 north and southbound approaches between Porter Avenue and Continental Drive.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to hold the Harrison Avenue walking-trail tunnel communication pending MDT traffic-count results — outcome: motion passed (held in abeyance; no deadline specified). - Motion to place the Beef Trail Road / Ski Area Loop signage communication on file and note — outcome: motion passed. - Motion to place the Montana Highway 2 wildlife-crossing communication on file and note (MDT to install signs northbound and southbound) — outcome: motion passed.

Sources: Remarks and motions recorded during the Silver Bow County Public Works Committee meeting, April 9, 2025. Direct quotations are from Director Neary and Commissioner Russell O'Leary as recorded in the meeting transcript.

Ending: The committee adjourned after recording the three communications and asking staff to return with updates; members asked that any unresolved items (notably the Harrison Avenue study and the Grand Avenue speeding concern) be reintroduced when more information is available.