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Billings Completes Three Bypass Phases, Advances $50M Infrastructure Projects
Three phases of the Billings Bypass are complete while other federally funded roadway, water and airport work moves forward.
How we reported this
The Billings Bypass project has three of its six phases finished as of 2026. The arterial roadway will eventually link I-90 in Lockwood to US 87 in Billings Heights with a new Yellowstone River bridge. Construction on the remaining segments is scheduled to begin in late 2026 and finish between 2027 and 2028.
Billings Bypass Status
The six-phase roadway remains the largest single infrastructure effort tracked in recent county documents. With half the phases now built, drivers in Lockwood and Billings Heights already use the completed sections. The unfinished segments will add the final river crossing and connections to US 87.
Parkway and Airport Connector Funding
Billings received an $11.6 million federal BUILD grant to finish the Northwest Billings Connector and Marathon Loop. The work will create nearly 25 miles of continuous parkways and improve access to the airport. This grant directly supports the active-transportation goals outlined in the 2024 Billings Area Pedestrian & Bicycle Master Plan, which was completed in early 2025.
Water Treatment Plant and Stormwater Work
Construction on the new West End Water Treatment Plant began in 2025. The facility will include two reservoirs supplied by the Billings Bench Water Association Canal. At Billings Logan International Airport, $1.5 million in federal funding supports the Stormwater Improvements Project that will expand Pond E capacity to serve new commercial aeronautical development.
These projects are advancing on separate timelines set by federal and local agencies. Residents can expect continued construction activity on the bypass segments starting later this year, with the pedestrian and bicycle master plan guiding future spending decisions on trails and crossings.