MTLRS427.xml Guide to the Montana Department of Highways, Engineering Division records 1955-1989 Montana Department of Highways, Engineering Division Finding aid prepared by Rachel Lilley; Updated by Lindsey Mick Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) Montana Historical Society Research Center 2013; 2024 Finding aid encoded by Matt Kruse; Updated by Lindsey Mick 2013; 2024 Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition). Montana Historical Society Archives RS 427_RS 492 Montana. Department of Highways Montana Department of Highways, Engineering Division records 1955-1989 1.4 linear feet This collection is a subgroup (Division) of the Montana Department of Transportation records, RS 492. Please see the primary finding aid for more Montana Department of Transportation records. This collection is comprised of records documenting the work of the Engineering Division of the Department of Highways, and includes general correspondence (1969-1987) of the Division Administrator and Assistant Administrator; a file (1956-1965) on the division's occupancy of offices in the State Laboratory Building; Division staff meeting minutes (1981-1985, 1988-1989), monthly construction reports (1979), and engineering reports (1958-1977). 41:5-3; Tubes Sub-basement English

The Montana State Highway Commission was created in 1913 by the state Legislative Assembly. The original Commission was composed of three members. In 1917 new legislation altered the organization of the Commission by authorizing the appointment of twelve members according to geographic highway districts. Membership was changed again in 1921 to three members appointed by the Governor and in 1941 to five members, also appointed by the Governor. In 1971 the Commission was renamed the Montana Department of Highways, created by Chapter 7 of the Executive Reorganization Act of 1971 and implemented by executive order of the Governor on December 16, 1971. The Department of Highways took over all but the advisory functions of the State Highway Commission.

By 1972, the Department consisted of seven divisions: the Legal Division, Personnel Division, Centralized Services Division, Engineering Division, Motor Pool Division, Gross Vehicle Weight Division, and the Maintenance Division. Each division was headed by an administrator. The Centralized Services Division, Engineering Division, Motor Pool Division, Gross Vehicle Weight Division, and the Maintenance Division were furthered sub-divided into bureaus, headed by Chiefs. In 1991, the Department of Highways became the Department of Transportation.

The Department of Highways Engineering Division was historically responsible for project planning and oversight, including, but not limited to: reporting on project options, preparing feasibility reports, and completing reconnaissance studies. Currently, the Highways and Engineering Division prepares projects for bidding and coordinates highway construction through two primary functions: Preconstruction and Construction. Specific Preconstruction functions are administered by the Bridge, Consultant Design, Engineering Information Services, Environmental Services, Highways, Right-of-Way, and Traffic and Safety bureaus in addition to five District Construction Offices in Billings, Butte, Great Falls, Glendive, and Missoula for budget purposes. Specific Construction functions are administered by the Contract Plans, Construction Engineering Services, Construction Administration Services, and Materials.

Documents in this collection reflect the day-to-day functions of the Engineering Division, and include: staff meeting minutes; correspondence between division heads and administrators, and other MDT departments; and reports on the feasibility of project routes, alternate routes for projects, and economic analyses of project routes. Also included in this collection is a subject file that discusses the State Laboratory Building, and reports by the Project Control Unit (in 1979, a unit of the Engineering Division). One linear foot of maps and building plans are included in this collection. Some of the more significant items in this series include plans of the State Highway Department Building.

This collection is arranged by series.

Collection is open for research.

The Montana Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library before any reproduction use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

In 2024, the various collections of the Montana Department of Transportation were integrated under one collection identifier, RS 492, in order to help facilitate access, reduce redundancy in the MTHS catalog, and to follow best archival practices.

Collections from Montana Department of Transportation's various Divisions and Bureaus that were previously treated as separate entities are now integrated into this collection, RS 492. Rather than reprocessing over 280 linear feet of Transportation materials, MTHS staff decided to keep the past arrangement of those collections/finding aids, and provide access to them via links through the central finding aid. This decision has allowed the MTHS archival staff to maintain intellectual control over the collection, while removing the need to reprocess it. It also keeps State Agency finding aids at manageable sizes. Please read the scope and content note carefully to determine if this subgroup/sub-subgroup pertains to your research needs.

Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Research Center, Archives, Helena, Montana.

Acquisition information available upon request

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the Montana Historical Society Archives catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search under these terms.

Roads Transportation--Montana Roads--Montana Montana Transportation Detailed Description of the Collection Correspondence 1/1-2 Division Administrator (Homer Wheeler and Beckert) 1969-1981 1/3-5 Division Head (Beckert) 1979-1982 1/6 Division Administrator (Don M. Harriott) 1983-1987 Minutes 1/7 Division Staff Meetings 1981-1985,1988-1989 Reports 1/8 Construction Project Reports (includes Project Control Unit records and reports) 1979 1/9 Brief Report on Access to Superior, MT 1962 1/10 Design Study Report for Fairfield, E. & W. 1971 1/11 Economic Analysis of Alt. Hwy Routings of I 90 near Missoula 1960 1/12 Economic Analysis of Hwy Routings from Cardwell to Three Forks 1962 1/13 Engineering Brief: McDonald Pass Tunnel Routes, Helena to Elliston 1965 1/14 Engineering Report Comparing Alt. Locations (I15) 1964 1/15 Engineering Report Comparing Alt. Locations (I15) undated 1/16 Engineering Report Comparing Alt. Locations (I90) 1964 1/17 Engineering Report Comparing Alt. Interchange Locations near Galen undated 1/18 I90 Route Location Study: Butte to Whitehall 1960 1/19 Mullan – Montana Line Feasibility Study 1963 1/20 Reconnaissance Study, I15: Woodville to Boulder 1966 1/21 Reconnaissance Study, I15: Woodville to Boulder 1966 1/22 Reconnaissance Study, I90: Montana-ID border to Saltese 1962 1/23 Reconnaissance Study: Railroad Grade Separation, Glendive 1976 1/24 Rest Area Study: Great Falls to Sweetgrass 1970 1/25 Route Location Study: MT 40 through Columbia Falls 1970 1/26 Study of Alternative Routes: Lodge Grass through Wyoming 1968 1/27 Supplemental Report Comparing Alt. Interchange Location: I90 near Galen 1966 1/28 US 91 Abandonment Study: Butte 1977 Subject Files 1/29 “Laboratory Building” 1955-1987 Miscellany Tubes Drop Inlets 1969-1974 Tubes Drop Inlets 1975 Tubes Drop Inlets 1976 Tubes Drop Inlets 1977 Tubes Drop Inlets 1978 Tubes Drop Inlets 1979 Tubes Drop Inlets 1980 Tubes “Fin. District 1” (projects in Lincoln, Flathead and Lake Co.) undated Tubes Historic/Significant State Sites by Region 1973 Tubes Plan for Addition to Montana State Highway Building 1956 Tubes Montana State Highway Building, New Bldg 1957