HELENA - A bigger, better U.S. 2 across a 45-mile stretch of Montana's Hi-Line would do little to improve the economy of that area, a group of legislators was told Thursday.

Economic growth would hardly be affected by expanding the heavily traveled road between Havre and the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation from two lanes to four lanes, according to the consulting firm hired by the state to study alternatives for rebuilding the highway.

Tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, energy, retail and service businesses, and government would have the same low chance of benefiting, said Joseph Hart, a...