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Community Perspectives Emerge on Billings Infrastructure Projects
Ongoing work on roadways, water systems and airport facilities draws attention from residents in affected areas.
How we reported this
The Billings Bypass project and related infrastructure upgrades continue across multiple sites in 2026, with three phases of the six-phase arterial roadway now complete. The work connects I-90 in Lockwood to US 87 in Billings Heights and includes the Johnson Lane Interchange, which is tentatively scheduled to begin construction in late 2026.
Billings Bypass and Connector Projects
Residents near Lockwood and Billings Heights have followed the arterial roadway construction closely because the route affects daily travel between those neighborhoods and central Billings. The project also received an $11.6 million federal BUILD grant to finish the Northwest Billings Connector and Marathon Loop, which together will create nearly 25 miles of continuous parkways and improve access to Billings International Airport. These changes directly touch drivers who use the routes linking the airport area with surrounding residential and commercial zones.
Water Treatment and Airport Improvements
Construction started in 2025 on the new West End Water Treatment Plant, which will add two reservoirs supplied by the Billings Bench Water Association Canal. The facility is intended to meet growing infrastructure needs in the western parts of the city. At the same time, the City of Billings received $1.5 million for the Billings Logan International Airport Stormwater Improvements Project to expand stormwater Pond E in newly developed commercial aeronautical areas. People living or working near the airport and the West End have noted how these projects intersect with existing drainage and water supply patterns.
Street and Utility Work
The 2025 Public Works schedule listed major water and sewer main replacements on Grand Avenue, Rosemont Way and 26th Street. Signal improvements and crosswalk upgrades are also planned at intersections such as Grand Avenue and 3rd Street West. These targeted replacements affect property owners and commuters who rely on those corridors for regular access. The City of Billings Public Works website lists current construction projects and allows residents to sign up for project notifications.
Updates on timelines and detours remain available through the Billings Public Works construction projects page. Individuals can create an account on the site to receive alerts about specific phases as work advances toward the 2027-2028 completion window for the full Bypass program.