Crews to Investigate Downtown Missoula Utilities

Subsurface work along Higgins Avenue, Front Street and Main Street is scheduled for November 9-20 ahead of a planned 2027 downtown project.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Utilities

Vacuum excavation truck with suction hose feeding a small pothole cut into a city street beside older brick downtown buildings. — Crews begin subsurface utility investigation on Higgins Avenue, Front Street and Main Street in Missoula from November 9 through November 20 ahead of a 2027 downtown project. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Jackson Contractor Group, working with the City of Missoula, will conduct subsurface investigation work along Higgins Avenue, Front Street and Main Street from Monday, November 9 through Friday, November 20, weather and conditions permitting. The preliminary investigation uses hydro-excavation to locate underground utilities ahead of the Downtown Safety Access and Mobility Project.

Why it matters

The investigation supports final design coordination for the Downtown Safety Access and Mobility Project and helps reduce potential conflicts with underground utilities once construction begins. Residents and businesses in Missoula can expect temporary disruptions during the work.

Crews will work Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. between November 9 and 20, 2026, with the larger downtown project expected to start in 2027. The exact number of crews and the daily sections of Higgins Avenue, Front Street and Main Street affected have not been specified.

The players

Jackson Contractor Group

Jackson Contractor Group is a contracting firm performing the subsurface investigation work in downtown Missoula under the direction of the city.

City of Missoula

The City of Missoula is the municipal government overseeing the Downtown Safety Access and Mobility Project and publishing the online road closure map for residents.

The details

Crews use potholing, also called hydro-excavation, a soft excavation method that safely locates underground utilities and verifies their depth and condition. Downtown access to businesses, emergency vehicle access and public transit service are expected to continue during the work, though drivers may face temporary parking restrictions, sidewalk detours, lane closures and minor delays.

November 9-20, 2026: Subsurface investigation work runs Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting.
2027: The Downtown Safety Access and Mobility Project construction is expected to get underway.

Roadmap

The subsurface work is the groundwork phase of the Downtown Safety Access and Mobility Project, which the city plans to begin constructing in 2027. Investigating utilities before construction is a standard step to reduce conflicts once excavation begins.

Drivers should slow down near the construction zones and may encounter temporary parking restrictions, sidewalk detours and lane closures. Businesses downtown remain accessible throughout, and public transit continues to operate on its normal schedule.

The takeaway

Checking the city's online road closure map before traveling downtown during November 9-20 can help you avoid delays and plan parking.

What happens next

Road closures along the Higgins Avenue, Front Street and Main Street corridors can be tracked on the City of Missoula's online road closure map during the November 9-20 investigation window.