It's an issue that's been under discussion in Great Falls for decades: a proposed arterial road south of town. A recently completed study lays out which route a proposed arterial or truck bypass should take, but some area leaders are taking issue with this first step.

Andrew Finch, a Senior Transportation Planner with the City of Great Falls explained, "A computer modeling software was used to try and identify the best alignment; the one that would cost the least, the one that would impact the least number of people and would have the least impact on environmental and historic features."

Yet Cascade County Commissioners are taking issue with the study. They say what was originally proposed as a truck bypass has morphed into something else. That's why they're discussing the project with the Department of Transportation before anyone commits to the expensive project.

“It's such a big project,” said Cascade County Commissioner Peggy Beltrone. “It's probably going to have to have political support from one of our Senators, but if we conflicted in the community, so one's going to pay for it."

Those conflicts involve the name of the project itself. Some community members and county leaders think the bypass should be built on the north side of town. Beltrone says that option didn't get enough consideration, perhaps because the city wants a new bridge on the south side.

“We were trying to say, 'If you want a bridge, get a bridge,’” Beltrone explained. “Leave it on the street system, ask for special appropriations for a bridge and have the cars use the street system and they stay off 10th Avenue."

Beltrone also thinks traveling on Gore Hill might turn off some truck drivers hauling between Billings and Canada.

"Well, there's no way this facility can be everything to every transportation user,” said Finch. “It's hoped that if trucks choose to use this route through town, one of the major drawing points will be the truck stops on Gore Hill."

Copies of the South Arterial Alignment Study are available at the City Planning Office in the basement of the Civic Center.

Representatives from the DOT told County Commissioners they will revisit the issue of the South Arterial and involve the public.

-Reported by Andrea Fisher and Chris Grogan