Letter to the Editor - Create an adequate transportation system in 2024

Friends and Neighbors

Happy New Year.

The Highway 2 Associaton continues its efforts, as it has for 22 years, to fulfill it’s mission — “To Enhance the Economic Viability of Northern Montana Communities by constructing an Adequate (U.S. Highway 2) that would allow communities to compete for and attract businesses.”

Adequate has been defined by the business community in that 80% of businesses locate in or near communities that have a four-lane highway.

Surveys have revealed that the No. 1 consideration of a business that looks to locate or relocate is “Is there an Adequate Transportation System?”

The Highway 2 Corridor received a death blow when Interstate 94 was completed in the mid-1970s through Glendive and south to Billings,which diverted 30% of the traffic from Highway 2.

That’s when businesses closed and people left northern Montana and communities have never recovered.

Since it was a government action that decimated a trade corridor, we are making the case that Congress should appropriate additional funding to upgrade Highway 2. We are making the case that the Havre region sets at the gateway to three of the strongest economies in North America — Alberta, Saskatchewan and North Dakota.

However, due to a lack of an adequate Highway 2, commerce and trade is skirting northern Montana for the most part.

We are also advocating for upgrades to Montana Secondary Highway 232, an unsafe highway, so U.S. Customs and Border Protection would consider expanded hours at the Port of Wild Horse.

CBP has stipulated that before it would consider expanded hours, Highway 232 would have to be upgraded to where it could accommodate future traffic in a safe and prudent manner.

Canadian trade is vital to Havre’s business sector.

I would assert, northern Montana is sitting on a “gold mine” it’s up to “we the people” to advocate for these highway upgrades that would allow our communities to grow and to prosper.

I’m an optimist, 2024 is the year, let’s make it happen.

Cordially

Bob Sivertsen, Highway 2 Associaton president