I-90 Bozeman Pass Winter Operations & Safety
Coordinating multi-agency winter safety protocols, dedicated commercial vehicle chain-up zones, and automated variable speed limits across the 5,760-foot Bozeman Pass.
- Client
- Montana Department of Transportation & Gallatin County
- Corridors
- I-90 MP 310 – MP 328
- Period
- 2023 – 2025
- Role
- Industry liaison, safety protocol drafting, contractor training
- Partners
- Montana Motor Carriers Association
Operating Constraints & Field Realities
Bozeman Pass is a critical interstate freight corridor connecting eastern Montana with mountain distribution hubs. Rapid elevation changes produce unpredictable squalls, causing commercial semi-truck jackknifes and multi-hour interstate shutdowns.
Chain-up compliance was historically hindered by cramped shoulder space, forcing heavy trucks to park dangerously close to moving traffic lanes during blizzards.
Engineered Countermeasures & Delivery
The association partnered with freight carriers and state highway patrols to design expanded, illuminated chain-up turnouts at the base of both ascent approaches.
We facilitated coordination meetings between paving contractors and state maintenance personnel to install automated variable speed limit signs that lower maximum speeds when pavement sensors detect freezing moisture.
Corridor Performance Benchmarks
Field Photography & Progress
More Case Studies
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2038 Stadium Dr, Bozeman, MT 59715