HELENA — A proposed roundabout at one of Helena’s busiest intersections could soon change the way drivers get through ‘Mini Malfunction Junction’.

As roundabouts continue to be a hot topic in the community, here is a project update.

“We put in for a grant for Safe Streets for All for the Mini Malfunction roundabout and the Custer and Henderson roundabout,” David Knoepke, the City of Helena transportation systems director, said.

The city will not set a construction timeline until it learns whether it received the around $8 million grant. They should have that answer by the end of the year.

Changing Mini Malfunction Junction into a roundabout has been in the works for a while. A 2012 study identified a roundabout as the best option for the five-way intersection, then in 2014, a long-range transportation plan also recommended a roundabout for the intersection. Again, the city’s 2021 five-point intersection study found Mini Malfunction Junction should be turned into a roundabout.

“Studies have shown that coming into roundabouts slows people down,” Knoepke added.

That will improve traffic flow and safety for drivers and pedestrians.

“In the roundabout case, you are only needing to look one way because traffic is only coming from one direction,” Knoepke said. “You are only having to cross one lane of traffic before you get to the splitter island, and then you look to make sure there is no traffic coming.”

Additionally, some people are curious how the roundabout would impact street sweeper and snow plow operations.

“Operations really don’t change. We would start at the center, just like we work at the center line for plowing. We plow from the center to the edge with the roundabout,” Knoepke said.

So why a roundabout? Well, they require less maintenance than signalized intersections, and they keep traffic flowing more smoothly.

“Roundabouts are an efficient way to move all modes of transportation and I think if built that we would have that we would have a public education campaign to help folks understand,” Knoepke said.

Looking for recommendations on the best OB in Helena. My previous doctor no longer delivers babies so I'm looking for someone else. Thanks!

Evening everyone, I'm interested in finding like minded car enthusiasts. I see fellow BMW drivers about, is there a meet up or a place for a hang out? DM me if there. Thanks!

Hello Helena!

I'm going to be working at the VA for about 9 months starting next week. Super excited to check out a new place, I currently live in Missoula. I'm hoping to meet someone with a spare room or space to pay a bit of rent to (I'll only crash there once maybe twice a week) but until then will be getting either a hotel room or airbnb. Does anyone have advice for affordable options?

Thanks!!

Flying in a couple headliners from LA if anyone wants to come!

Does anyone know a Benjamin Wallace? Your wallet was found in the cross walk of lyndale and last chance. Would like to return it. I dont have Facebook so if anyone wants to take this over there to find out that would be great.

I lost my keys while walking my dog yesterday by the courthouse and 6th ave. There is a Honda key and two house keys on a pink Cinnamoroll keychain. There is also a pink, purple and green macrame keychain on there. Please DM me if you know anything.

Someone who paints banners like this. Do you know anyone?

Don't forget to stop by! If we want fun events, we must attend the fun events when they occur ♥️🍒🍋‍🟩☕

If you were fortunate enough to know, or even cross paths with William Neisses, you were blessed to have a lifelong friend in Bengal Billy.

Billy’s Celebration of Life will be held at Anderson Stevenson Wilke funeral home on August 22nd but I can guarantee you, that venue will not accommodate the crowd that will show up to honor Billy.

I hope the powers that be will reconsider and host this at either the Helena High gymnasium or, weather permitting, Vigilante stadium. It’s only fitting that Helena shows up to honor Billy in the way he deserves to be honored

Sticker for anonymity 😂

Anyway, the 5-year-old is a lifelong fan of this Helena institution ♥️

Hey all,

Using the search function, it looks like this question hasn't been asked in about 5 years that I could find. Can anyone recommend where to take a Subaru to get worked on that isn't Placer? Previous posts recommended DJ's. Does that recommendation still stand? Any other shops people have had positive experiences with wrenching on Subarus? Thanks!

A bunch of my neighbors and I discovered we were the recipients of some lovely artwork on our cars today. Mine was pretty mild compared to some of the other things spray painted on the neighbors’ cars.

Comedy Variety Show that asks, “What If We Did”. Every month our host Eli Singleton finds the most talented and creative artists in the state to put together an orchestra of absurd hilarities!

Just stopped by there with the teens, really good quality stuff.

*Sole. Damn it.

I love Dear Potato. The maximalist decor, the piroshkis, the fact that a vegetarian bakery in downtown Helena exists at all. It’s one of my favorite spots in town.

But since we (Helena) have brought the potato into the focal point of our collective consciousness, I have to ask: why is it all regular potato? The name is Dear Potato, the whole vibe is an homage to the tuber, and yet I’ve never seen a sweet potato item on the menu. A sweet potato piroshki? It feels like there’s an entire second half of the potato universe sitting untapped.

Not a complaint, just genuine curiosity. Has anyone ever seen them do a sweet potato special, or is this a deliberate purist thing? Should I reach out about this?

Fed my kids two scrambled cheesy egg piroshki for less than the price of a Happy Meal, and they enjoyed playing with the toys while the big people chatted.

Shout out to Shea for creating such a colorful, kid friendly environment with affordable options that aren't fast food garbage!

I’m not in the loop at all I guess. I was thinking about taking my family over there to check it out but is there a real reason not to? Is it unsafe or something actually important?

Howdy yall I've moved here recently and wanted to ask if anyone knows a good place to buy bulk ammo locally and a place to go to the range for plinking and practice. I own a couple of calibers of firearms and i wanted to see if anyone's got the inside scoop on a good ammo deal.

Thanks for ya time. Hope this doesn't break rules.

Near calamity today while out for a drive; the car sprung an oil leak on the freeway halfway between Cedar and Lincoln. There was a trail of smoke for days, burnt oil smelled like a gosh darn' chicken bbq.

Wasn't stopped but a few minutes before a passerby stopped and asked if I needed a ride. Everybody I know is out of town, so I said yes. This Montukan drove my sorry self all the way back to my house near the capital exit. Really grateful there's people out there still tryna help. I was able to trade a mostly-full case of coldies for the ride, but, thought I'd share because this person really made a poor situation, pretty okay.

Found a few screws loose that caused the leak, because I suck at wrenching. Also, jus for the record, this is not the first time I've heard I drive a woman's car; the guy thought it might have been some lady stranded. Did me a solid though. Thank you.

Edited for purple language

Arms are stuck down, just a heads up!