Interstate 15 Business (Great Falls, Montana)

Interstate 15 Business (BL 15) is a business loop of Interstate 15 (I-15) in Cascade County, Montana, United States, almost entirely within Great Falls. The route links I-15 (which bypasses downtown Great Falls to the west) with the center of Great Falls. As its business loop designation implies, BL 15 terminates at I-15 (running concurrently with U.S. Route 89 [US 89] and Montana Highway 200 [MT 200] through western Great Falls) at each end. The southernmost 0.83 miles (1.34 km) of the route from the interchange with I-15 to Fox Farm Road is designated, but not signed, as Interstate 315 (I-315).[1] I-315 is the second shortest Interstate in the country; only the unsigned I-878 is shorter.

Interstate 15 Business marker

Interstate 15 Business

I-15 Bus. highlighted in red, unsigned I-315 highlighted in blue
Route information
Business route of I-15
Maintained by MDT
Length5.834 mi (9.389 km)
Existed1967–present
Major junctions
South end I-15 / US 89 / MT 3 / MT 200 south of Great Falls
Major intersections US 89 / MT 3 / MT 200 in Great Falls
North end I-15 / US 89 / MT 200 in Great Falls
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMontana
CountiesCascade
Highway system
← US 312I-315→ S-315

Route description
First Baptist Church, in the city center on 2nd Avenue, March 2013

BL 15 begins at I-15 exit 278 in an unincorporated area of Cascade County, a short distance southwest of Great Falls. At the trumpet interchange, US 89 and MT 200 separate from I-15 and merge with BL 15. Additionally, MT 3 begins at the interchange and follows the three routes to the east. Just east of the interchange with I-15, BL 15 intersects 14th Street. The Interstate Highway–standard conditions come to an end a short distance to the east at an intersection with Fox Farm Road.[2] Here, the 0.83-mile (1.34 km)[3] I-315 (designated along BL 15 from I-15 to Fox Farm Road) comes to an end[4] while BL 15, US 89, MT 3, and MT 200 continue across the Missouri River into downtown Great Falls.[2]

Within downtown, the four routes remain concurrent along 10th Avenue South to the parallel one-way couplet of 5th and 6th streets. BL 15 northbound separates from US 89/MT 3/MT 200 at 6th Street, following the street northward through the city to the one-way 2nd Avenue North near the city center. BL 15 turns to the west, following 2nd to Park Street, then Park south to Central Avenue, where BL 15 northbound rejoins the routing of BL 15 southbound. Between Central Avenue and 10th Avenue South, BL 15 southbound is routed along 1st Avenue North east to 5th Street South, then 5th South to 10th Avenue.[2]

BL 15 follows Central Avenue to the west, crossing the Missouri River once more as it exits downtown. After several intersections with local streets, BL 15 terminates at I-15 exit 280. Central Avenue, however, continues westward from the exit.[2]

Major intersections

The entire route is in Cascade County.

LocationmikmExitDestinationsNotes
​0.0000.000—

 I-15 / US 89 north / MT 200 west – Helena, Shelby


 I-315 north / MT 3 south		Western end of I-315/US 89/MT 3/MT 200 concurrency; I-15 exit 278
Great Falls0.3350.539014th Street SouthwestInterchange
0.8281.333—
 I-315 south / Fox Farm Road, 6th Street Southwest		Eastern end of I-315 concurrency
2.3413.767



 US 89 south / MT 3 south / MT 200 east (10th Avenue South) to US 87		Eastern end of US 89/MT 3/MT 200 concurrency; I-15 Bus. becomes 6th Street South (one-way street)
5.8349.389 I-15 / US 89 / MT 200 – Helena, ShelbyNorthern terminus; I-15 exit 280
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also


References
  1. "Interstate 315 Montana". Interstate-Guide.com. Retrieved September 24, 2007. (has pictures showing that I-315 is signed as BL 15)
  2. Rand McNally (2007). "Montana" (Map). The Road Atlas '07. Chicago: Rand McNally. p. 61. § M16, N16.
  3. Starks, Edward (January 27, 2022). "Table 2: Auxiliary Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways as of December 31, 2021". Route Log and Finder List. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  4. Montana Department of Transportation (2001). Great Falls - Cascade County (PDF) (Map). Helena: Montana Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 24, 2007.

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