Montana’s 4th Interstate? New Senate Bill Suggests It.

According to Google, Montana has over 73 thousand miles of road across Big Sky Country, and if some folks get their wish, it appears we will add to that.

Montana has 3 interstates running through it. There is I-90, I-94, and I-15 and now there is talk about adding a 4th interstate that would start in Montana and run all of the way to Texas.

The problem? Well, it would require a lot of change.

READ MORE: Montana roads risky over the summer months

The Senate Bill 4484, which was introduced in May 2026, proposes an 1800 mile stretch of road from Choteau, Montana all the way to Port Author, Texas. It should be noted that the Bill was introduced by U.S. Senators from Texas and Wyoming.

The Bill suggests turning US Highway 287 into a 4-lane road and renaming it I-47.

For those not in in the know, 287 already runs from Choteau to Port Author, but expanding it into 4 lanes and building Off/On Ramps would not only take billions of dollars, it would also disrupt many of the small towns located on the road.

How do locals feel about a new Montana Interstate?

As you can imagine, many locals are against the idea, especially considering that the current highway runs through the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. That in itself is enough to raise an eyebrow or two. Will studies be done? What will the impact be? How much would those studies cost? Who would pay for them?

These are just some of the question that have been raised, and those are concerning the parks. What about folks who own land along the route? What will happen to them?

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What are your thoughts? Do you think that it's time to expand the roadways in Montana, or do you think that this is a bad idea and things should be left the way that they are? Let us know by sending us a message on our app.