Water Projects

South 2nd Street West & Cottonwood Street Water Main Replacement Project

Location:  Cottonwood St., South 2nd St. W, Hickory St., and South 1st St. W

Description:  Replacing approximately 1,800 feet of 6-inch kalamein water main installed in 1914. Street closures and traffic detours will be required for this project. A link to the detour maps is provided below.

The project contractor is Western Excavating.

Benefits:  Reducing water leakage from these mains. Kalamein is a Priority 1 replacement pipe. Missoula Water installs devices on fire hydrants throughout the City to listen to the noise coming from the water pipes. Through this program, we identified a fire hydrant with a very loud noise that has increased over time, indicating leaking pipes nearby. 

Next Steps:  Informational letters were mailed to affected property owners on February 17, 2023. These letters include contact information for the project contractor, who will work with property owners whose property is adjacent to the new water main and wish to replace their water services line (runs from the house to the main).

Project Dates:  Expected to begin March 13 with an anticipated completion date of July 11, 2023. These dates are subject to change due to adverse weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances.

Project Area Map

Detour Maps

Project Contact:  Triston Firth, Utility Engineer, FirthT@ci.missoula.mt.us or 406-552-6102

North 5th and 6th Streets West Water Main Replacement Project

Location:  On N. 6^th St. W. between Worden and Kennett avenues, N. 5^th St. W. between Worden and Wolf avenues, and Kennett Ave. between N. 6^th St. W. and N. 5^th St. W.

Description:  This project will install approximately 2,200 feet of new water main to replace the existing water main. The existing water main has been identified for replacement due to its age and history of leakage. We will also be replacing damaged sidewalks and improving the sidewalks at the intersections within the project area including adding ADA ramps and installing new drainage facilities.

Benefits:  The existing water main has been identified for replacement due to its age and history of leakage. In addition, portions of the project area are supplied from a single dead-end water main, so this project would install the infrastructure needed to add a second supply of water to this area by creating a loop in the system.

Project Dates:  To begin in Spring 2023 with completion expected during Summer 2023. More precise dates will be provided on this page once available. However, all dates are subject to change due to adverse weather conditions or unforeseeable circumstances.

Next Steps:  Informational letters will be sent to property owners near the project area once project start and completion dates are known.

Project Area Map--Available soon

Project Contact:  Andy Schultz, City Engineer for Utilities, 406-552-6758 or SchultzA@ci.missoula.mt.us 

Central Avenue and Sussex Avenue Water Main Replacement Project

Location:  E. Central Ave. and E. Sussex Ave. between Hilda Ave. and Maurice Ave.

Description:  Replacing approximately 3,055 linear feet of Invasion Steel (thin-walled) water main on both E. Central Ave. and E. Sussex Ave. between Hilda Ave. and Maurice Ave.

Three Rivers Landworks is the contractor for the project.

Benefits:  Reducing system leakage. This project was prioritized because the existing 77-year-old main is in poor condition and requires replacement.

Project Dates:  The anticipated start date is March 13, 2023, with expected around May 18. All dates are subject to change due to adverse weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances.

Project Map

Detours:  Work will start on Central at Hilda and move toward Maurice as sections are completed. Once work on Central is done, crews will start on Sussex at Hilda and move toward Maurice. Those traveling in the area should proceed slowly and watch for street closure and detour signs.

Project Contact:  Adam Marsh, Utility Engineer, at MarshA@ci.missoula.mt.us or 406-552-6679

Lincoln Hills Water Storage Tank Projects

Location:  Two new water storage tanks will be constructed next to the two current water tanks off of Contour Rd. and Lincoln Hills Dr., as shown on the map below.

Description:  This project will replace two undersized aging metal tanks up in Lincoln Hills. The Lower Lincoln Hills tank will be a partially buried, cast-in-place concrete tank installed adjacent to the existing tank. The Upper Lincoln Hills tank will be a fully buried, cast-in-place concrete tank and will also be installed next to the existing metal tank.

Crews will begin with the upper tank but will alternate between the two sites as needed during construction to make the best use of their time. There will be periods when the concrete needs to cure, so crews can work on the other tank during this time. Alternating between the two tanks will better help get both tanks installed according to the schedule.  

The Public Works & Mobility Department has partnered with Missoula Parks & Recreation’s Conservation Lands staff to ensure that the sites are restored to a natural condition. Before excavation work begins to clear the area where the new upper tank will be installed, P&R staff will collect some of the native plant species and move them to their greenhouse. The plants will be cared for there until the construction work is done, and they can be replanted on areas where vegetation was cleared. Conservation staff have already been working on raising additional native plant species in their greenhouse that will be planted along with the removed plants.

Prospect Construction is the contractor who will be doing the construction.

Benefits:  Replacing these tanks was identified as a priority project in our Water Facility Plan because the undersized tanks cause a multitude of issues, especially excessive pump cycling, which leads to pumps and motors wearing out more quickly. The new tanks will also provide more storage capacity for Missoula Water customers and firefighting needs.

Project Dates:  Begins April 18 with a scheduled completion date of November 15 for the upper tank and December 1 for the lower tank. These dates are subject to change due to weather and other circumstances.

Project Map (pdf)

Project Contact:   Andy Schultz, City Engineer for Utilities, 406-552-6758 or SchultzA@ci.missoula.mt.us

Upper Prospect Water Storage Tank #2 Project

Location:  At the top of Pinnacle Place next to the water tank currently in place.

Description:  This project will install an additional 150,000-gallon cast-in-place concrete water storage tank at the Upper Prospect tank site.

Traffic Expectations:  All streets will be passable—no work will be done in the streets, but there will be an increase in heavy truck traffic. Because the new tank will be poured in place, concrete trucks and other heavy equipment will need to use City streets and an access road to reach the project site.

Benefits:  The new tank will complement the existing 150,000-gallon water storage tank already on-site, resulting in a total capacity of 300,000 gallons of water. Both tanks will be fully buried. This project was identified in the Water Facility Plan to add the necessary capacity to meet domestic and fire flow demands. In addition, it will add redundancy to the site, which will allow one of the tanks to be taken offline for maintenance. 

Prospect Construction was hired to do the work based on their low bid. They are also constructing the Upper and Lower Lincoln Hills water tanks this summer. Missoula Water is able to save on construction costs by completing the Upper Prospect tank in the same construction season as the other two tanks by keeping crews working for a longer portion of the construction season and by re-using materials, such as the concrete forms.

Project Dates:  Scheduled to begin July 11 with an anticipated completion date of November 30, 2022. These dates are subject to change due to weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances.

Project Map (pdf)

Project Contact:   Andy Schultz, City Engineer for Utilities, 406-552-6758 or SchultzA@ci.missoula.mt.us

Lower Rattlesnake Water Main Replacement & PRV Installation Project

Location:  On Locust Street from the Harrison Street intersection to Taylor Street.

Description:  This project includes installing a pressure reducing valve (PRV) and replacing an adjacent section of approximately 220 feet of kalamein water main installed in 1926. Replacing kalamein pipe is a priority for Missoula Water due to its age and leakage history.  

Benefits:  A portion of the lower Rattlesnake is supplied drinking water through a single water main. This project would install the infrastructure needed to add a second main that would supply water to this area. While the existing main would remain the primary supply, during a fire flow event or large water main break that drops the pressure in this area significantly, the pressure reducing valve installed as part of this project would open up and add an additional supply of water.

Project Dates:  The anticipated start date is March 20, 2023, with completion expected the week of April 17. These dates are subject to change due to adverse weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances. This page will be updated as needed.

Next Steps:  Informational letters were mailed to affected property owners on March 7, 2023. These letters include contact information for the project contractor, who will work with property owners whose property is adjacent to the new water main and wish to replace their water services line (runs from the house to the main).

Project Area Map

Project Contact:  Andy Schultz, City Engineer for Utilities, 406-552-6758 or SchultzA@ci.missoula.mt.us