If you have been stuck behind a flagger on Higgins Avenue this week, the crews are not fixing anything. They are looking for things.

Jackson Contractor Group, working with the City of Missoula, is carrying out subsurface investigation along the Higgins Avenue and Front Street/Main Street corridors through Friday, Nov. 20, weekdays only, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting, the city announced.

What “potholing” actually is

The technique is hydro excavation — pressurised water and a vacuum, rather than a backhoe. Crews cut small holes to find buried utilities and confirm how deep they sit and what condition they are in.

It is deliberately slow and fussy work, and the reason is straightforward: it is far cheaper to find a gas line in November 2026 than to hit one in 2027.

The project it is preparing for

All of this is groundwork for the Downtown Safety, Access and Mobility project — the downtown SAM project — which the city expects to begin in 2027. We reported in October that construction had slipped to spring 2027.

The city says this preliminary work helps with final design coordination, reduces the potential for utility conflicts, and helps to minimize disruptions during future construction.

What you will actually run into

• Temporary lane closures and traffic flaggers as crews move between locations
• Parking restrictions and sidewalk detours
• Minor delays near active work areas

The city says traffic will keep moving through the area, that crews will maintain access for emergency vehicles and public transit, and that access to businesses will be maintained throughout — with minor adjustments to how you get in on foot or by car.

Its own assessment is that traffic impacts should remain minimal. Allow a little extra time and watch for crews.

If you need to plan around it

Current road closures and project updates are on the city’s interactive map. The city has also published a project contact: Megan McMeekin, senior project manager in Public Works & Mobility, at 406-531-1619.

And if you are a downtown business worried about a two-week stretch of flaggers outside your door: the work is weekday daytime only. Evenings and weekends are yours.

Sources

• City of Missoula, “Preliminary Utility Work Downtown Nov. 9-20,” posted Nov. 2, 2026
• Missoula Current, “Missoula Traffic Alert: Downtown Delays Begin November 9”