Surveyors Working In Missoula’s Downtown Area

If you have spent some time in downtown Missoula lately, you may have noticed workers in vests with tripods set up. They are surveyors, and they are part of the Downtown Safety, Access, and Mobility Project.

According to a press release from the City of Missoula, this is part of a $24 million federal RAISE grant to help with Missoula's infrastructure, awarded in 2023. This is just the beginning of the design phase of the project.

The surveyors will be collecting a variety of information including:

• Property lines
• Street and sidewalk dimensions
• Utility locations, above ground and underground
• Locations of trees, light poles and street signs

The surveying is to be conducted over the next three to four weeks. This weekend the Missoula St. Patrick's Day Parade will be taking place on Saturday at noon.

Read More: Embrace the Irish Spirit: Your Guide to St. Patrick's Day in Missoula

Since this is the beginning of the design phase, the final designs won't be completed until 2026-2027. The plan is to start construction in 2027.

Megan McMeekin is the project manager for the City of Missoula. The project concepts have been shared with a 19-member panel. The meetings are open to observation, but they will not include public comment. The public is encouraged to provide feedback and get updates on the project by using the website EngageMissoula.com.

Engagemissoula.com has multiple city projects that can be tracked and commented on, like the North MRL Triangle future uses and the Fort Missoula Post Hospital Historic Preservation permit.

In the meantime, don't be surprised if you see workers and their equipment in downtown Missoula over the next couple of weeks, planning the future.