Fencing & Guardrail in Montana

Montana is the fourth-largest state by area with one of the lowest population densities in the nation — but its highway system is anything but small. The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) maintains over 11,000 centerline miles of state highway and more than 2,600 bridges across terrain that ranges from the Northern Rockies to the Great Plains. Ideal Fencing Corp serves Montana through our RailCo LLC division, which operates across the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies. Our crews understand the unique challenges of Montana infrastructure work: extreme temperature swings from -40F winters to 100F summers, frost depths exceeding 48 inches, rocky mountain soils, and project sites that can be hours from the nearest supply yard.

MDT and Montana Highway Infrastructure

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) oversees one of the most expansive state highway systems relative to population in the US. MDT organizes operations into five districts: Missoula (District 1), Butte (District 2), Great Falls (District 3), Glendive (District 4), and Billings (District 5). Each district presents distinct geographic and climatic challenges — from the mountain passes and river canyons of Districts 1 and 2 to the windswept plains of Districts 3 and 4.

MDT specifications align closely with AASHTO standards but include Montana-specific provisions for extreme cold weather construction, wildlife crossing structures, and tribal consultation requirements for projects on or near reservation lands. We maintain active contractor status with MDT and understand the seasonal construction windows — typically May through October in the western mountains, slightly longer on the eastern plains.

I-90 Corridor — Billings to Missoula

Interstate 90 is Montana's primary east-west artery, running 552 miles from the Wyoming border at Laurel through Billings, Butte, and Missoula to the Idaho border at Lookout Pass. This corridor carries the heaviest traffic volumes in the state, particularly the Billings urban area and the Missoula metropolitan area. I-90 traverses Homestake Pass (6,329 feet) between Butte and Whitehall and Lookout Pass (4,725 feet) near the Idaho border — both sections requiring robust guardrail systems for steep grades and sharp curves.

The Billings area is Montana's largest commercial and industrial center. We install perimeter security fencing for refineries along the Yellowstone River corridor, distribution centers along I-90, and agricultural processing facilities throughout the Yellowstone Valley. Missoula's growing tech and university economy drives demand for commercial property fencing, campus security, and municipal infrastructure.

I-15 Corridor — Great Falls to Butte

Interstate 15 runs north-south from the Canadian border at Sweetgrass through Great Falls, Helena, and Butte to the Idaho border near Monida Pass. This corridor includes some of Montana's most critical infrastructure — the Great Falls urban area, the state capital in Helena, and the historic mining city of Butte. The Continental Divide crossing between Helena and Butte at Elk Park Pass presents elevation and weather challenges similar to Colorado mountain corridors.

Great Falls and Helena support military installations (Malmstrom Air Force Base), state government facilities, and growing commercial districts that require security fencing, access control, and perimeter protection. Our crews have experience working in these environments with the security clearance protocols and scheduling constraints they demand.

Eastern Montana and the Hi-Line

Eastern Montana stretches across the Great Plains along US-2 (the Hi-Line) and I-94. This region experiences some of the most extreme weather in the lower 48 — sustained winds exceeding 60 mph, blizzards with whiteout conditions, and summer temperatures above 100F. All guardrail, fencing, and signage installations in this region must be engineered for extraordinary wind loads and frost heave.

US-2 parallels the BNSF Railway mainline across the northern tier of the state, connecting communities from Glacier National Park to the North Dakota border. I-94 runs from Billings east through Miles City and Glendive to the North Dakota border. Both corridors serve critical agricultural, energy (Bakken oil field access), and freight transportation roles. Wildlife fencing along these corridors is essential — Montana has some of the highest rates of animal-vehicle collisions in the nation.

Wildlife Crossings and Conservation Fencing

Montana is a national leader in wildlife-highway interaction research and mitigation. MDT, in partnership with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, has implemented innovative wildlife crossing structures along US-93 on the Flathead Reservation and along I-90 near Missoula. These projects require specialized wildlife exclusion fencing that channels animals toward crossing structures while maintaining fence integrity against elk, deer, moose, and bear. Our wildlife fencing experience across the Northwest directly translates to Montana's conservation priorities.