The time has come for a traffic light

Every summer, a temporary traffic light is placed at the intersection of Montana 40 and Dillon Road (between Whitefish and Columbia Falls) to accommodate and control traffic during the Under the Big Sky Music Festival. I would strongly and respectfully request that a traffic light be permanently installed at this location. Our local, year-round residents deserve the same access and safety considerations as visitors.   

I’ve lived on Dillon Road for over 28 years now and have commuted back and forth to Kalispell for work (and other reasons) five days a week. I’ve watched how Dillon Road has become a major thoroughfare to get around Whitefish and have written to the highway department in the past regarding concerns at this intersection, but those concerns have deepened with the drastic increase in traffic.  

I have never been an advocate for adding lights. I understand the domino effect it can have (and I am aware that lights are needed elsewhere in Flathead County as our population rapidly increases and our status grows as travel destination area), but the situation at this intersection has become so dangerous  that that should be a serious consideration. It is about halfway between U.S. 2 and 93, so it would be a logical place to slow and control traffic. 

Although there is a no passing pennant along Montana 40 east of Dillon Road, inevitably if I (or anyone) is turning north onto Dillion, the cars behind tailgate, then will pass, using the left hand turn lane. This happens multiple times a day. Once that vehicle passes, they are in a potentially head-on situation with a vehicle heading the opposite way (east) and especially if they are in the left (north) turning lane for Dillon as well. I actually feel compelled to warn visitors to my home of the situation in advance of their travels. 

Then there is the problem of pulling out onto Montana 40 from Dillion Road. At peak traffic times, vehicles are traveling back and forth so fast that you don’t dare take a chance until it is absolutely clear...which is never. I frequently have to go miles out of my way and take a back road to get to a light, as it is actually more time efficient than waiting for a safe opportunity to merge at that intersection in either direction.  

Another reason a light would be desirable and an important safety feature at that intersection is the speed of travel at which people approach it from Dillon Road. They simply don’t seem to notice how fast it comes up on them or that it indeed intersects with a highway. I’ve seen cars race south on Dillon Road and not even stop when they got to Montana 40 (some have gotten lucky and some have not). Although there is only one cross in the ditch (although Montana 40 is rife with them), that is not the only fatality there has been at that location/intersection. 

I greatly appreciate your judicious consideration of my concerns, and if you share them, please call or write to:  

Montana Department of Transportation 

District 1 Administrator Bob Vosen 

2100 Broadway 

P.O. Box 7039 

Missoula, MT. 59807 

Call 1-406-523-5800 or toll free at 1-888-231-5819 

Bob Vosen can also be reached at rvosen@mt.gov and his assistant, Joan Redeen, can be reached at jredeen@mt.gov 

Wendy Ostrom Price lives in Columbia Falls.