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City staff back three-legged roundabout at Dry Creek and Cruiser after multi-option review
Summary
City staff and consultant Sanbel Engineering presented an ICE study recommending a three-legged roundabout at the Dry Creek/Cruiser intersection as the preferred long-term fix; the plan requires right-of-way acquisitions, developer contributions and impact fees, and MDT (state) review.
City staff and traffic consultants laid out a preferred three-legged roundabout as the long-term solution for the congested Dry Creek/Cruiser intersection, citing safety and level-of-service projections through 2044.
Joey Stazak, a consultant with Sanbel Engineering, told the council the intersection-control-evaluation (ICE) process examined multiple alternatives and concluded that a three-legged roundabout "was the preferred alternative for that intersection." Stazak and staff said the design performed at level-of-service C or better in long-range modeling while other options did not.
The proposed design includes a turbo (channelized) roundabout geometry, mountable aprons to accommodate large trucks and lighting, sidewalks and landscaping. Stazak explained the project was sized to handle a WB-67 control vehicle (a standardized 18-wheel articulated truck), and noted the design uses a compact inscribed diameter to keep speeds and footprint down.
Staff said the state (Montana Department of Transportation, MDT) must review and approve changes because Dry Creek is a state route. The project team told the council MDT approved the ICE report in January 2025 but declined to provide construction funding and has not programming the work in its five-year plan.
Council members pressed staff about impacts to nearby local streets and to Spooner Avenue. Staff said access restrictions will be required on the Spooner leg (including removal of some left-turn movements) and that some traffic will be routed via Jackrabbit and future collector roads; right-of-way acquisitions along Cruiser are likely.
On finance, staff said pro-rata developer contributions have already totaled roughly $1 million and the remainder would be paid from impact fees; the preliminary cost estimate includes a 30% contingency because design is still early. Final design could be complete in fall or winter of this year, with bidding in late winter or early 2026 and construction starting in spring 2026; much of work would be done in a single construction season with follow-up surfacing into 2027.
Staff asked the council how they would like public engagement to proceed following authorization to begin funding and landowner negotiations. Several council members urged early outreach to explain trade-offs and help residents understand why this alternative is the most feasible given state constraints.
The presentation closed with staff and consultants encouraging public input while noting the limited set of viable alternatives given safety, right-of-way and MDT requirements.
