A road connection Bozeman has talked about for years is finally moving into construction. The first phase of the Fowler Avenue connection project has been awarded and is set to start this month, and the city is inviting residents to an open house to learn what's coming, KBZK reported.
"The Fowler Avenue connection project is a key missing link in our transportation network," Bozeman City Engineer Emiliano Esparza told KBZK.
Phase by phase
When it's done, the project will connect the existing Fowler Avenue from Oak Street through Durston Road and eventually on to Huffine Lane.
Phase 1 costs $4 million and connects Fowler Avenue from Oak Street to Durston Road. "The first phase has been designed. Has been awarded for construction in September. And now we're gearing up to start construction later this month," Esparza said. KBZK reports this fall's work includes building the road's foundation, installing new water and sewer lines and finishing other work before the snow starts.
The new section won't open to traffic right away. "That corridor will remain closed until we finish Phase 2, which is currently in the design phase," Esparza said.
Phase 2 will connect Durston Road to Babcock Street and is expected to be finished by late 2027. Once it's complete, Fowler Avenue will run through from Oak Street to Babcock Street.
Phases 3 and 4 are further out.
Neighbors weigh in
The new road will run parallel to New Holland Drive in the Harvest Creek neighborhood. Mike Roser, who has lived there more than 10 years, told KBZK he was concerned at first. "We have concerns. Obviously, noise pollution, light pollution behind our house. Construction and things like that," he said.
But Roser also sees a possible upside. He said New Holland is used as a cut-through, with cars going 40 to 50 mph, and that Fowler Avenue might take some pressure off the neighborhood. Esparza said that's one of the goals of the project.
Open house
The city will hold an informational open house Monday, Nov. 2, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room at Fire Station No. 3, 1705 Vaquero Parkway. Esparza said the goal is to give residents "a sense as to what is to come as far as construction logistics and answer any questions."
KBZK's report did not name the contractor that won the Phase 1 award. Contractors curious about the bid results and Phase 2 schedule can check with the city's engineering division, or attend the open house.
Why it matters for contractors
Bozeman has been one of the fastest-growing places in the Mountain West, and its road and utility network has had to catch up. Fowler Avenue is a clear example. A north-south connector through established neighborhoods brings work for road builders, earthwork crews and underground utility contractors now, and opens up access that can shape development along the corridor later.
The timing matters too. Phase 1 is a short fall window to get the road base and water and sewer lines in before winter, which means tight scheduling and the usual cold-weather risks for crews. With Phase 2 in design and expected to finish by late 2027, there's another round of bidding ahead. Civil and utility contractors who missed Phase 1 should watch for that solicitation. And the project doesn't end at Babcock. The city's long-term plan carries Fowler Avenue on to Huffine Lane in Phases 3 and 4. No timeline was given for those phases, but they point to years of road and utility work on this corridor.
For builders and subs working in west Bozeman, the bigger takeaway is traffic. While Phase 1 is underway, expect construction activity near Oak Street and Durston Road, and plan crew routes and deliveries around it. Once the full corridor is open from Oak to Babcock, it should give contractors another way to move across that side of town.