Governor Gianforte Highlights Infrastructure Investments in Rural Montana

Continues 56 County Tour in Wibaux and Fallon counties

• August 12 2025

BAKER, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today continued his 56 County Tour visiting with Montanans in Wibaux and Fallon counties to highlight infrastructure investments in rural Montana.

“Since taking office, we’ve made strategic investments in communities across Montana,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Our efforts are delivering real results through revitalized infrastructure, upgraded facilities, and new opportunities for businesses. Working with community leaders, we’ll continue making Montana the best place to live, work, and raise a family.”

Gov. Gianforte visiting with Wibaux County Commissioners at the Carlyle Bridge

In Wibaux County, the governor met with county officials to tour the repaired Carlyle Bridge outside of Wibaux.

Wibaux County leaders began repairs on the bridge, constructed in 1960, in April of this year after severe cracking was identified in supporting structures. Through the Montana Coal Endowment Program (MCEP), a state-funded program designed to help fund local infrastructure projects, the state allocated funds to support the improvement project. The bridge was completed in June.

Touring the site with Wibaux County Commissioners Darin Miske, Ed Anderson, and Al Knight, the governor heard of the importance of the bridge to the community.

“This bridge is a main artery for agriculture,” Commissioner Miske said. “We really wanted the governor to come out and see how important this is to rural Montana. It makes a real difference for our community.”

The total estimate cost of the project is approximately $1.4 million. Funding included a $691,350 MCEP grant that was matched dollar-for-dollar by the Montana Department of Transportation, through funding allocated in Senate Bill 536 in the 2023 legislative session.

Investing in Montana’s critical infrastructure, especially roads and bridges, has been a top priority for Gov. Gianforte. During the 2023 legislative session, the governor signed established the Securing Access to Federal Expenditures to Repair (SAFER) Montana Roads and Bridges Act. As it was introduced in the governor’s Budget for Montana Families, the act leverages up to nine federal dollars for every one state dollar and invests $100 million to repair Montana’s roads and bridges.

This year, Gov. Gianforte proposed and secured an additional $10 million a year toward bridge repairs.

Gov. Gianforte visits with members of SMART and the Baker Chamber of Commerce

Traveling to Fallon County, the governor received an update on another community project in Baker, the rehabilitation of the Baker State Bank Building. The building is the second oldest building in the town and had fallen into disrepair, until the Southeastern Montana Revitalization Team (SMART) and the Baker Chamber of Commerce bought it in 2020 with the goal to save and renovate the building as an event space or site for a business.

In June 2023, the Montana Department of Commerce announced Baker was one of 31 Montana communities that would share more than $10 million of grant funding for 44 historic preservation projects and received a $160,000 grant to support a roof repair.

Visiting with Katie Miller, who serves as the executive director for SMART, the governor heard why the organization wanted to preserve the building.

“Part of SMART’s goal is to help keep our community vibrant,” Miller said. “We started the renovation back in 2021 because we didn’t want to lose this piece of our history. Thanks to the funding from the state, we’ll be able to renovate this building so it can continue as a lasting part of this community long into the future.”

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