Project sensitive to Native Americans, wildlife

Highway 93 in Montana had developed a bad reputation because of its high accident rate. To cut down on accidents, the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) wanted to widen the highway to four lanes. However, since Highway 93 cuts through the Flathead Indian Reservation, the agencies’ plans concerned the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes (CSKT).

While not opposing plans to rebuild the highway, tribal authorities wanted measures to protect their threatened culture, their sensitive environment and their breathtaking scenery. They believed that widening the entire roadway would bring more suburban settlement from the urban areas to the south, sever ancient ecosystems and irreparably damage the Ninepipe Wildlife Refuge, part of a geologically unique wetlands complex that lies near the middle of the reservation.

Getting all parties to agree to the project required the review of some basic assumptions about road building. Those assumptions — about alignments, safety standards and the relationship of the roadway to the surrounding land — are part of a century of surveying and road building tradition in the United States.

In 1998, Skillings-Connolly, a Lacey, Wash.-based civil engineering firm, was hired to develop an access management plan and manage design discussions for US 93. Jones and Jones, a Seattle-based architecture and landscape architecture firm, was brought in to develop alignment concepts and guidelines for the project. The firms helped produce guidelines, approved by MDT and FHWA, that included shaping the 56-mile stretch of highway to respect natural scenery and wildlife habitat, while giving drivers a new look at the land.

Designers identified 14 major landscapes, or “rooms” along the highway, each with its own visual and ecological qualities. Subtle, slow curves in the roadway will serve to acknowledge the many features of the land and enhance scenic panoramas. The curves also have a safety goal, since long, straight stretches of road are conducive to boredom and to increased travel speeds.

Additionally, the firms conducted a supplemental environmental review of the Ninepipe wetlands area. A National Wildlife Refuge, the area is an important part of a complex of thousands of “kettleponds” that support diverse wildlife, and the CSKT was particularly sensitive to the issue of animal mortality on 93. By examining road-kill data, tracking information and sightings, the consultants identified migration patterns that had been disrupted by the original construction of Highway 93. They then analyzed current construction techniques for wildlife crossings, so the improved highway would be less of a barrier.

Forty-two wildlife crossings will incorporate culverts, bridges and a major underpass to funnel migrating wildlife to safe crossings under and over the road bed. Where necessary, specially designed fencing will be tucked into the surrounding landscape to direct animals toward crossings.

A visitor center and overlooks, which will feature messages written in three languages — Kootenai, Salish and English — and incorporate the work of tribal artists, will provide opportunities for travelers to rest and learn about the native people. And, since red is significant in tribal culture, the designers are exploring the use of reddish aggregate in the roadway to provide a subtle distinction to the highway as it enters, crosses and leaves the reservation. Landforms will be used for controlling access, capturing runoff and tying the road to the surrounding area.

Naturally finished wood, native quarried stone and indigenous vegetation will take precedence over industrial materials in the crossings and other new features. (Institutional and regulatory controls on signage are included in the guidelines.) Construction on Highway 93 is expected to begin in late 2003.