U.S. 93 Business - Missoula
The route of U.S. 93 in 1968 follows what is now U.S. 93 Business from U.S. 12 to Broadway (Business Loop I-90). U.S. 93 turned onto former U.S. 10 west alongside Montana Highway 200.
U.S. 93 Business follows the former route of U.S. 93 through central Missoula between Reserve Street and Interstate 90. The route overlaps with U.S. 12 (Brooks Street) 1.7 miles northeast from Reserve Street to Stephens Avenue. Stephens Avenue and Orange Street continue the route north 2.3 miles through western reaches of Downtown to Exit 104 of I-90.
North
U.S. 93 Business (Orange Street) leaves the intersection with Front and Main Streets to travel one block north to junction Business Loop I-90 (Broadway Street / old U.S. 10). Business Loop I-90 follows Broadway Street east through Downtown Missoula to Van Buren Street (U.S. 12) and west to Reserve Street (U.S. 93).
09/01/06
Signs posted on Orange Street north at Broadway Street omit shields for Business Loop I-90 and instead direct motorists northward for the continuation of U.S. 93 Business. Since 2006, the shield assembly pictured here was removed and a new U.S. 93 (without a business banner) assembly was added to the utility pole beyond the Broadway Street mast-arm signal.
09/01/06
An Interstate 90 trailblazer at Pine Street directs motorists northward along U.S. 93 Business (Orange Street) from Downtown to the freeway.
09/01/06
Northbound U.S. 93 Business (Orange Street) at Spruce Street.
09/01/06
The final reassurance marker for U.S. 93 Business precedes Alder Street, where Orange Street reduces to two lanes.
09/01/06
Orange Street lowers into a subway below five Montana Rail Link railroad tracks, two warehouses, and adjacent Railroad and 1st Streets. The underpass has a clearance of 13 feet 8 inches for U.S. 93 Business.1
09/01/06
Constructed in the 1930s, the steel stringer bridge supporting the original Northern Pacific Railway is 250 feet in length and 396 feet wide. Orange Street travels 1,032 feet through the subway with two 15 foot lanes. A pair of five foot sidewalks accompany U.S. 93 Business through the Orange Street Underpass as well.1
09/01/06
U.S. 93 Business emerges from the Orange Street Underpass at 2nd Street, just one block south of the diamond interchange with I-90/MT 200.
09/01/06
Travelers bound for I-90/MT 200 east to Bonner and Butte depart U.S. 93 Business (Orange Street) north.
09/01/06
Orange Street north defaults onto I-90/MT 200 west. Signage for U.S. 93 Business ends here, with I-90 carrying the route back to U.S. 93 (Exit 101).
09/01/06
South
An overhead sign assembly precedes intersection between Orange and Broadway Streets (Business Loop I-90) on U.S. 93 Business south. The guide sign alludes to Orange Street as the main line for U.S. 93, directing motorists to Hamilton, the U.S. 93 destination south of Missoula in 47 miles.
09/01/06
This assembly for U.S. 93 Business south at Business Loop I-90 at Orange and Broadway Streets was removed after 2006. Broadway Street was the former route of both U.S. 10 and MT 200 through Missoula. It now carries Business Loop I-90 west to Reserve Street (U.S. 93 north) and east to Van Buren Street (U.S. 12 east).
09/01/06
U.S. 93 Business (Orange Street) veers southwest to span the Clark Fork river beyond the intersection with Main and Clark Streets.
09/01/06
References:
- "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form - Orange Street Underpass." http://mhs.mt.gov/shpo/register/ OrangeStreetUnderpass.pdf.
Photo Credits:
- AARoads, Chris Kalina: 09/01/06
Connect with:
Page Updated Thursday October 17, 2013.