First Street project topic Monday

Downtown business owners and the Montana Department of Transportation are going to talk Monday about what will happen when First Street is rebuilt in 2006.

"It's never too early to start looking at these projects, especially one like this that's so important for Havre," Mick Johnson, MDT Great Falls district administrator, said today.

The MDT plans to do extensive work on U.S. Highway 2 where it is Havre's downtown First Street. The plans are for construction to start in 2006, if planning is completed and the anticipated funding is available.

The meeting, scheduled by the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce, will start at 9 a.m. in the second-floor meeting room of US Bank, and Johnson said he will attend.

The discussion will include the planning of the construction, what will be done to provide access to businesses during construction and what detours will be necessary.

The MDT stated in previous meetings that some of the budget for construction could be used for beautification projects, like boulevards or decorative work.

Johnson said it's important for people to be involved in the planning, because the project will affect what downtown Havre looks like and how it works for the next 30 years or more.