Montana Highway 86
 Montana Highway 86 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 MT 86 highlighted in red | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by MDT | ||||
| Length | 37.498 mi[1] (60.347 km) | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end |   I-90 BL / US 191 in Bozeman | |||
| North end |  US 89 near Wilsall | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | Montana | |||
| Counties | ||||
| Highway system | ||||
| ||||
Highway 86 (MT 86) is a 37.498-mile-long (60.347 km) north–south state highway in the U.S. State of Montana. MT 86's southern terminus is at I-90 Bus. and U.S. Route 191 (US 191) in the city of Bozeman and the northern terminus is at an intersection with US 89 north of the town of Wilsall. Much of the route follows the eastern flank of the Bridger Mountains, and the road provides access to the Bridger Bowl ski resort.[2]
Before receiving its current designation, Highway 86 was designated as Montana Secondary Highway 293.
Route description
MT 86 begins at the intersection of Rouse Avenue and East Main Street, which carries US 191, in downtown Bozeman. It heads north on Rouse along a two-lane street through a residential area. In the northern part of town, MT 86 crosses the Montana Rail Link while simultaneously passing beneath Interstate 90. The highway turns to the east and leaves the city; it skirts the southern edge of the Bridger Range. It passes beneath the "College M", a 250-by-100-foot (76 m × 30 m) limestone majuscule M built into the side of Old Baldy within sight of Bozeman and Montana State University.[3] The highway curves around the eastern flank of the mountain range and follows a northerly path.[4]
MT 86 travels through mountainous terrain. Coniferous trees line either side of the road's right-of-way. It passes the Bridger Bowl Ski Area, which lies to the west. Shortly thereafter, it meets Brackett Creek Road, which roughly marks the halfway point of the route. The forest surrounding the highway yields to grassland and the terrain levels somewhat as the road turns to the north-northeast near Sedan. The highway takes a sharp curve to the east and then angles to the northeast. The road ends at US 89 a few miles north of Wilsall.[4]
Major intersections
| County | Location | mi[1] | km | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gallatin | Bozeman | 0.000 | 0.000 | I-90 BL / US 191 (E. Main Street) | Southern terminus |
| | 18.774 | 30.214 | Brackett Creek Road | ||
| Park | | 37.498 | 60.347 | US 89 | Northern terminus |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
References
- ^ a b "Montana Road Log" (PDF). Montana Department of Transportation. 2011. p. 211. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
- ^ Official 2007-2008 Montana Highway Travel Map (PDF) (Map). Montana Department of Transportation. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 28, 2007. Retrieved December 8, 2007.
- ^ "History of the "M"". Montana State University. Archived from the original on June 12, 2014. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
- ^ a b "Montana Highway 86" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved December 23, 2013.