montana road report

montana road report

Montana Road Report

1. Current Road Conditions

For the latest information on road conditions, travelers can now go to our website at [Link] or dial 1-800-226-7623. The map on the web is interactive, and after selecting a route, the mouse can be hovered over the chosen road, and the reported road conditions will appear. This is the same information reported over the telephone. Please note that the report is current information for the time it was updated only and does not reflect changed road conditions after the update. Users can also subscribe to our email notification system. When you subscribe and create a new account, you can choose which route(s) you are interested in monitoring. Then you will receive an email from “mdtroadreport” when the route you have chosen has a change in the reported road conditions. Changes include the addition of a caution, an updated reported condition, and the removal of a caution. Subscriptions are available at [Link] Information is updated every 2 hours from 5:00 am to 9:00 pm, 7 days a week, with special coverage during inclement weather. From October to May, information is also available at all Montana Division of Transportation Rest Areas. Changes regarding road closures and openings can easily and quickly be put into the page, and subscribers can be aware of the change instantly. Due to its high flexibility and availability, travelers are encouraged to make our website their most visited site for the most current road conditions. This can be the most efficient way to know the road conditions before leaving.

2. Incidents and Accidents

There are two main types of incidents, those being “accidents” and others that don’t directly involve collisions. Accidents can be attributed to a number of causes, the most common being speed too fast for conditions, animals, and slippery roads. Information regarding accidents, the time and location, and accident type, and any resulting road closures and delays is entered into the Road Maintenance Management System (RMMS). The data is then available by district on the RMMS website. The RMMS data is a great resource and a good alternative when there are problems with the MHP site or the MHP site data is not sufficient. An important feature of RMMS is the accident summary which provides a brief description of the accident type and detail on the resulting delays and road closures. Incidents that don’t directly involve accidents can have similar impacts on road traffic and conditions. High volume events such as 4th of July festivities and other public holidays can result in heavy congestion through popular travel corridors. Parades and other patriotic celebrations can cause delays and traffic congestion in local areas. Political rallies and campaign motorcades can cause short-term road closures and result in delays for road users. Other non-traffic related incidents can also impact road users. The May 2007 floods had various short-term and long-term effects on road infrastructure. Any road washouts, bridge failures, or long-term closures due to maintenance work should be reported in the daily call so the MDT and the public can be aware of the impacts to road conditions. This type of information can also be entered and accessed through RMMS.

3. Construction Updates

Job Site Safety Analysis Traffic control and rerouting is a part of many construction projects. This requires coordination with MDT personnel and sometimes a law enforcement presence to assure a smooth flow of traffic around the job site. Troopers may also assist construction personnel in locating underground utilities and/or marking underground utility lines. A free database query is available for law enforcement purposes for all underground utility lines. The U.S. Department of Transportation requires the tracking of all traffic incidents that result in a fatality, injury, towing, or spill of a hazardous material. All incidents occurring on state highway right-of-way are reported to the MHP by local law enforcement and/or the department’s maintenance division. An investigation may be conducted to determine possible crash causation factors related to the construction project. This is done to improve safety at work zones and reduce crashes.

This department is responsible for construction and maintenance work on the state highway system. The MHP regularly dispatches troopers to help in traffic control through work zones. Work zone safety information is disseminated through media releases, highway advisory radio, and travel information signs. Traffic control through work zones is a major safety focus of the MHP. Statistical analysis is performed to determine the relationship between motor vehicle and worker crashes in construction or maintenance zones, and to better allocate resources. Currently, four troopers are assigned to the National Work Zone Safety Information Program. These troopers provide speakers and materials to schools so children can become more aware of safety issues and help diminish work zone crashes in the future.

4. Weather Warnings

A “Stationary warm front will sweep across the Northern Rockies Tuesday and Wednesday. This will bring some areas of light snow and rain to the region. Temperatures will begin to moderate by Wednesday, with most valleys seeing rain or snow. Precipitation will increase Tuesday and Wednesday in the central and southern parts of the state.” A frontal system is going to bring light snow or rain to mainly the lower elevations west of the Continental Divide late this evening through Friday morning. Snow accumulations will likely be several inches in the mountains. Dry and warmer weather will begin late Friday and continue through the weekend. An arctic air mass will overspread the region by early next week and bring much colder temperatures and areas of snow to the Northern Rockies through midweek. Winter is still hanging on in Montana!

The bottom of the road report details weather warnings, particularly for travelers using mountain/high elevation routes. Information is provided from the National Weather Service pertaining to signal lights on traffic signals and the following special statements. Keep in mind that weather conditions can vary and it is always a good idea to check the forecast along your route to better anticipate changing conditions.

5. Tips for Safe Driving

Keep your tank full and your cellular charger as well. Skipping about searching for gasoline in the switch, and also a gas station and warm up can be particularly demanding when you’re on the deadline. Always pack your emergency equipment before you leave. Then turn it over and refill your tank when you can. Try to fill it when it’s at least half empty. 30 below and a wind blowing is no time to find out that your lighter doesn’t work in your car with hopes of defrosting fuel lines. The fuel system can get moisture in it and freeze up the lines. Drive at a safe speed. Posted speed limits often do not reflect the safe speed under winter driving conditions. If road and visibility conditions are so bad that you can barely discern the road’s contours ahead of you, pull over and wait for conditions to improve. Let other drivers pass you if they want to drive faster. Travel in the right lane and increase the following distance between you and the vehicle ahead. A vehicle will do less damage to the road if it slides off at a lower speed, and this reduces your risk of being hit with flying rocks and gravel. High speeds often lead to loss of vehicle control.