Fowler Avenue Connection

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An aerial image of a roundabout under construction

The Fowler Avenue Connection Project will connect Fowler Avenue from Oak Street to Huffine Lane. The pre-design phase began in January 2021 and focused on understanding existing conditions along the corridor, including environmental and traffic analysis, gathering input from the community on design elements, and estimating potential costs.

By August of 2022, the project team provided a final Pre-Design Report and conducted a work session on the next steps for the project with the Transportation Advisory Board and the City Commission. After hearing a summary of community input, traffic and environmental analyses, City Commission directed staff to move into the design phase of the project with the following conditions:

  • One travel lane in each direction
  • Left turn lanes as needed
  • Traffic signal intersection control at Babcock
  • Roundabout intersection control at Durston
  • Wide shared-use path on at least one side
  • Utilization of flexible design criteria to preserve existing tree canopy

All of the input from focus groups, walk audits, open houses and the maps, stories, and survey tools on this page have been included in the pre-design report or the engagement summaries found in the documents section on the right side of this page.

As the project moves into the design phase, the project team will continue to keep you informed throughout this next phase and let you know about upcoming opportunities to provide your input.

Register to provide your input and email updates from the team. Thank you for your interest in this project. We're glad you're here!


Existing Conditions in the Fowler Connection Area. This image is an aerial view of the Fowler Avenue Corridor and shows which gaps will be completed during this project. Some future sections will require new intersections with local streets and paths.



The Fowler Avenue Connection Project will connect Fowler Avenue from Oak Street to Huffine Lane. The pre-design phase began in January 2021 and focused on understanding existing conditions along the corridor, including environmental and traffic analysis, gathering input from the community on design elements, and estimating potential costs.

By August of 2022, the project team provided a final Pre-Design Report and conducted a work session on the next steps for the project with the Transportation Advisory Board and the City Commission. After hearing a summary of community input, traffic and environmental analyses, City Commission directed staff to move into the design phase of the project with the following conditions:

  • One travel lane in each direction
  • Left turn lanes as needed
  • Traffic signal intersection control at Babcock
  • Roundabout intersection control at Durston
  • Wide shared-use path on at least one side
  • Utilization of flexible design criteria to preserve existing tree canopy

All of the input from focus groups, walk audits, open houses and the maps, stories, and survey tools on this page have been included in the pre-design report or the engagement summaries found in the documents section on the right side of this page.

As the project moves into the design phase, the project team will continue to keep you informed throughout this next phase and let you know about upcoming opportunities to provide your input.

Register to provide your input and email updates from the team. Thank you for your interest in this project. We're glad you're here!


Existing Conditions in the Fowler Connection Area. This image is an aerial view of the Fowler Avenue Corridor and shows which gaps will be completed during this project. Some future sections will require new intersections with local streets and paths.



What matters most for the future Fowler Ave?

What are the most important considerations for you as we design the Fowler Avenue Connection?

Whether you’re a neighbor, a Gallatin High student, or a commuter by bike, bus, foot, or car, we want to hear about your values, hopes, and concerns for this new transportation corridor. 

Your responses here will be visible to other site visitors and help the project team prepare for further conversation with neighbors, commuters, and other community groups during the engagement process.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us!

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
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    Thinking years ahead rather than just about tomorrow's commuters

    by Beth A, about 2 years ago
    Please consider how we could plan for the longterm future with this important connecting path. Instead of business as usual, why not make a really useable bike path and a separate bus-only road through the area? This could help preserve neighborhoods and most of the existing habitat, allow for transportation, and provide a model or test for an innovative solution. If it works here, such connectors could be expanded to other parts of the city. More roads for easy, single-driver commuting will only lead to more cars, pollution, noise, and eventual gridlock.
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    Paving paradise

    by Bozeman, about 2 years ago
    Diplomacy doesn’t work in Bozeman. The agenda is set. Human hegemony will continue to reign supreme—as the city systematically murders the last of our local ecological habitats, stomping out our collective cultural nature-based heritage. Nobody will want to live here someday. Because every decision is myopic and nearsighted. Why not raise extra money and create an artistic and nature-based thoroughfare that people far and wide will want to visit and enjoy? Instead of the anxiety ridden plans for speed and efficiency. The death knell of our joy and purpose and happiness.


    Where is your heart Bozeman? Where is your imagination... Continue reading
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    Community Petition?

    by Theodore , about 2 years ago
    In the notes to the recent city commission meeting, the lead transportation engineer announced that Fowler Road will be built. This, of course, raises questions about the purpose of this forum. Is it just theater? The comments are decidedly against a four-lane connector road, removal of the mature trees, submerging of the existing creek, and removal of the quiet and well-used walking path. If the forum really can impact the project, then the city would reconsider or scale back plans for the connector.


    How can the community push back about decisions that, according to the lead engineer, have already been... Continue reading

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    What does Bozeman care about?

    by Landa, about 2 years ago

    Bozeman claims to deeply value and appreciate what makes it a great town - the mountains, trees, creeks, fresh air and peaceful surroundings. The Fowler Avenue connection will be a testimony to the truth or lie of that sentiment. Hundreds of Bozemanites daily use the path that is scheduled to be replaced with a multi-lane connector street. The current path is utilized all day long for running, walking dogs, biking, and taking kids to the nearby parks. It also connects neighborhoods to a variety of elementary schools in the area. This beautiful path runs from Durston to Babcock, in a... Continue reading

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    Our Northwest Version of the Gallagator Trail

    by Zehra Osman, about 2 years ago

    Since you’ve already procured the necessary easements, this Fowler connection should be our west-side version of the tree-lined Gallagator Trail (for pedestrians not cars) that Northwest neighborhoods could use to walk to destinations on Huffine. This kind of pedestrian/bike connection has potential to get us out of our vehicles, which would cut down on emissions. If your plan is that this connection is a sidewalk along the edge of a connector road (like on Ferguson, Durston, or Babcock)- - well that is NOT a pleasant experience or safe walking/biking route. What we have on our side of town is a... Continue reading

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    Use other, smarter alternatives.

    by Tony, about 2 years ago
    As a resident of the neighborhood around Babcock and Fowler, I greatly appreciate the undeveloped path between Babcock and Durston and use it for biking and walking. Much better than riding or walking on streets and sidewalks. The city should avoid doing things the old way of building more streets to accommodate more traffic. Instead, let's be smarter and reduce traffic with public transportation and better designed alternative routes. I ride public transportation, and will continue if it can preserve a more natural areas like this path. City government take note: this neighborhood doesn't want a road here! We love... Continue reading
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    Please consider residents of the area

    by patiencewithaP, about 2 years ago

    While I understand the population of Bozeman and Gallatin County has grown exponentially, as a member of this neighborhood and frequent user of the Ponds trails, I disagree with turning Fowler into a 3- or 4-lane roadway.

    The old-growth cottonwoods are irreplaceable and paving over another stream would be killing what tiny bit of Bozeman is left. The area is habitat for birds, fish, and several small animals, and the trees provide a barrier from the traffic and shade in the summer. This is a park used by many in town, not just the neighborhood. Covering the stream would only... Continue reading

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    Very much needed

    by John , about 2 years ago
    This project is very much needed! It would divert thru traffic away from residential streets such as Meagher and Yellowstone. Bozeman isn't getting smaller, people and traffic will continue to increase.


    I do agree with saving the walking path that goes between Durston and Babcock.
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    Preserve Wildlife Pocket

    by Jen G, about 2 years ago

    A few years ago, my daughter and I rode our bikes through this area to grab a bight to eat. On our way home, we stopped to watch 3 juvenile hawks messing around in the front yard/dead-end street near the greenway between Babcock and Durston. It was magical and I felt so fortunate to be able to sit on a curb and watch these critters, whose presence was made possible by the small stand of forest less than a block away.

    Here is an easy opportunity to put a small but productive wildlife habitat ahead of human conveniences. Do not... Continue reading

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    Enough!!!!

    by Enough!!!!!!, about 2 years ago
    Please stop this road project! There are enough roads throughout these small neighborhoods for people to commute! This area is one of the last beautiful, quiet, peaceful, and original areas left in Bozeman!!! I’ve lived here since the 70’s and have seen enough growth please keep and preserve this little bit of what Bozeman use to be!
Page last updated: 17 Apr 2024, 04:03 PM