Independent projects were recommended for Russell Street and South 3^rd Street in the 1999 Transportation Plan Update.  The City of Missoula and the Montana Department of Transportation combined these projects into one in 2000.  A number of alternatives have been developed and analyzed in cooperation with an Advisory Committee and an Interdisciplinary Team.  This work was conducted over the course of three years from the Fall of 2000 through the Fall of 2003. During the environmental analysis, it was determined that historic resources may be impacted.  Over the course of the past three years, the city has been working on revisions to the alternatives that would preserve the integrity of the design concepts while minimizing impacts to protected resources.  A new consultant contract was initiated in September of 2006 and a Draft Environmental Impact Statement is anticipated to be available by fall 2008.