City to install brighter signs and repaint markings at Mary and Bitterroot after warrant study finds no four‑way stop

Billings — City public‑works staff briefed the council on Dec. 1 about short‑term measures to improve safety at the Mary and Bitterroot intersection after recent crashes and a state warrant study concluded the corner does not meet the criteria for a four‑way stop.

Debbie, who presented the study and recommendations, said the Montana Department of Transportation performed a warrant analysis and concluded the intersection does not meet the volume and peak‑hour warrants for a four‑way stop, although the crash‑based warrant came closest. Debbie said city staff had requested crash‑detail data from the Highway Patrol and expected it to be available the following day; those accident‑characteristic details could affect final warrant determinations.

As near‑term measures the city will install edge‑lit (flashing) stop signs, the county will place stop signs on the opposite sides of each approach leg, sign and post reflectivity will be improved, and new stop bars will be painted. Debbie said rumble strips and flashing red beacons were considered in the study but were not recommended for immediate installation because rumble strips are typically avoided in residential areas due to noise and flashing beacons would adversely affect the corner house’s occupants at night.

Debbie said the planning‑level concept for the corridor envisions two‑way operation and that construction of the final segment is not anticipated for approximately five years, so short‑term visibility and marking improvements should remain in place for the interim.

What’s next: The city will implement the visibility and pavement‑marking improvements this week weather permitting and will review crash data from the Highway Patrol once received to reassess whether additional measures are warranted.