The people's voice., 1959-04-24
"The Billings Overpass'

"The Billings Overpass'
In connection with the interstate
building program a rather interesting
situation has developed in Billings
Montana. However, before this car
be adequately discussed brief state
ment regarding our financial pro.
gram in this state may be helpful. AS
previously stated for our primary
highways the State of Montana furn.
ishes 1870 of the cost and the Federal
government furnishes 57@o. On our
interstate highways the Federal gov
ernment furnishes 92%o and the State
furnishes so.
Further, our State is divided into
twelve financial districts, each of
which is entitled to limited amount
of money per year. For instance, the
district in which Billings is located
is entitled to a limited sum of money
to use for matching with Federal
funds in given year.
With these facts in mind, let US
proceed with the following situation.
In the city of Billings and between
the city of Billings and Laurel we
have an admittedly bad situation.
There is a narrow, dangerous two
lane highway to Laurel that long ago
should have been four-lane highway
if it was to continue in use.
In hope that the Interstate High
way would pass through the Yellow
stone Valley south of Billings and
near the present sugar factory, an
application was made to make a pro-
posed overpass part of the spur to
the interstate highway passing 1.5
miles to the south of Billings. This
overpass would replace the dangerous
underpass now in existence.
Two attempts were made to put
this overpass on the Interstate Sys-
tenn as a spur thus qualifying it for
92%0 Federal assistance, but so far
the Bureau of Public Roads has re-
fused to grant this. This is true, even
though Butte and Great Falls were
granted spurs.
Notwithstanding these refusals,
a million dollar overpass was con-
structed on primary funds at the
rate of 1870 State money and $40
Federal money. This means that
1870 of a million dollar overpass
has been financed by State match
ing funds, sum of money which
will undoubtedly weigh heavily
against the Billings financial dis
tricts and means that if we must
proceed with this type of financing,
it will be a long time before that
project will be completed.
The only hope for reducing this
Train on that financial district and
IN our State matching funds lies in
getting this structure approved as
/ spur in the Interstate Highway Sys-
EN-, thus making the structure and
rights of way available
or matching funds at the rate of
)2a6 Federal funds and 80 State
unds.
If the Interstate Highway is routed
o the north side of Billings rather
han south of Billings by way of the
ugar factory, the chances of financ-
ng this structure with interstate
unds will be gone forever, due to
he fact that if Billings is. to be
'ranted an Interstate spur, it would
aturally have to be granted on the
orth of the town rather than the
outh side under the facts we have
ust set forth.
This could be especially embarrass-
1g if the Interstate's northerly route
onnects Laurel and Billings, thus
obviating the necessity of
ne present Billings-Laurel Highway,
ogether with it's expensive over
asses, underpasses, and right-of-way
roblems.
E-ROUTING MIGHT
SOMEONE
At any rate, it now should become ;
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