Beartooth Highway Emergency Repairs

A rain-on-snow event in mid-March 2005 severely damaged more than 12 miles of U.S. Highway 212 outside Red Lodge, Montana. The road is a crucial link to the western route to Yellowstone Park and is only open to traffic from late-May until mid-October. Due to instability in failed areas on the mountain, safety was the first priority for Kiewit in reconstructing the highway.

The $15.2 million project involved excavating rock and slide debris, reconstructing the drainage, roadway and new alignment, and constructing MSE walls. Rock fall fences were also constructed at several locations and overall drainage capacity was increased by creating water diversions along stable locations on the mountain and constructing special inlets to allow rock over 3-inch diameter to pass.

Kiewit's fast-track design-build approach coupled with experience and cooperation allowed the team to reopen the roadway in just 16 weeks — 14 days ahead of schedule.