Ronan North:Round Butte Road

Ronan, Montana

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Challenge: The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) launched the Ronan-North and Ronan-Urban projects to reconstruct four miles of U.S. Highway 93 (US 93) through Ronan, a critical travel corridor connecting Missoula to communities in Lake and Flathead Counties. The Ronan-North segment was the first to move forward, widening U.S. 93 to four lanes, adding a traffic signal at Old U.S. 93 and 3rd Avenue, closing the Spring Creek Road intersection, and extending a shared-use path. Given Ronan’s size and the highway’s importance, clear public communication was essential. MDT partnered with Big Sky Public Relations (Big Sky PR) to manage outreach with residents, travelers, and business owners throughout construction.

 

Results: Outreach began with a project logo and updated webpage featuring maps, schedules, and contact information. Ahead of construction, Big Sky PR hosted in-person and virtual open houses in October 2022 to introduce the project and gather input, promoted through press releases, mailers, radio, social media, phone calls, and direct canvassing. Once construction began, the team provided weekly updates by email, text, and website to keep the community informed.

During the 2023 season, Big Sky PR maintained steady communication through press releases and regular updates to help residents navigate road impacts. Business access emerged as a key concern, prompting direct engagement through calls, visits, and Chamber of Commerce meetings. The team also coordinated messaging for concurrent projects to clarify how each fit into broader roadway improvements. As construction progressed, updates addressed utility interruptions, access challenges, and delayed signal installation, always emphasizing transparency.

In 2024, communication efforts continued as MDT corrected a section of pavement and addressed intersection design feedback from residents and the school district. Big Sky PR’s open communication channels and quick responsiveness helped maintain trust during a demanding, high-impact project.

 

Results: The Ronan-North project modernized a major highway, improving traffic flow, safety, and pedestrian connectivity through expanded lanes, a new traffic signal, and an extended shared-use path. Big Sky Public Relations’ proactive outreach kept the public informed and engaged through more than 255 hours of direct stakeholder communication, 100 hotline calls, and 140 email threads. The team issued six press releases, nearly 90 weekly updates, 80 text alerts, and secured 45 earned media stories.

While challenges such as business access and construction delays tested patience for both the project team and the public, consistent communication helped maintain community support and shape design improvements. By completion, residents expressed appreciation for the smoother roadway, safer intersections, and responsive communication throughout the process.