When a Growing Local Business Outgrows Shared Hosting

Starting a local business website does not always require expensive hosting or advanced server technology. For many small businesses, shared hosting is an affordable and convenient way to establish an online presence. Whether you operate a local retail store, provide professional services, manage a restaurant, or run a small online shop, shared hosting can provide everything you need during the early stages.

However, business growth brings new demands. More customers visit your website, your product catalog expands, and you may introduce online bookings, payment processing, customer accounts, or other interactive features. Eventually, the hosting plan that once worked perfectly may struggle to support your growing operations.

Recognizing when to upgrade from shared hosting is important because website performance, reliability, and accessibility directly influence customer experience. Understanding the warning signs can help business owners make a timely decision without spending money on unnecessary infrastructure.

Why Shared Hosting Works for Small Businesses

Shared hosting allows multiple websites to operate on the same physical server. They share resources such as processing power, memory, storage, and bandwidth. Since the server's operating costs are distributed among multiple customers, hosting providers can offer affordable plans.

For a newly established local business, this arrangement has several advantages.

• Affordable starting costs: Small businesses can launch a professional website without making a significant initial investment.
• Simple management: Most shared hosting packages include user-friendly control panels that make everyday website management easier.
• Basic maintenance: Hosting providers generally handle server maintenance, infrastructure updates, and essential technical operations.
• Suitable for smaller websites: Business websites with limited traffic and straightforward functionality can operate comfortably on shared resources.

A local photography studio, independent consultant, neighborhood restaurant, or small repair service may not need advanced hosting when its website primarily displays business information, opening hours, services, and contact details.

The situation changes when the website becomes an important part of daily business operations.

6 Signs Your Business Has Outgrown Shared Hosting

Business owners do not always notice hosting limitations immediately. Problems often develop gradually as website activity increases. However, several warning signs can indicate that your current hosting environment is no longer suitable.

1. Website Loading Speeds Are Becoming Unreliable

Website speed is one of the first areas affected when a hosting plan struggles to support growing activity.

Imagine a local furniture store that initially receives a few dozen website visitors each day. As its reputation grows, more customers begin browsing product pages, viewing photographs, and submitting inquiries.

If the website starts loading slowly, especially during busy periods, visitors may become frustrated and leave before exploring the available products.

Slow performance can have several causes, including inefficient website code, oversized images, excessive plugins, and limited server resources. Therefore, business owners should investigate the underlying problem before assuming that hosting is responsible.

However, if website optimization does not resolve recurring performance issues, the available hosting resources may be insufficient.

2. Traffic Increases Are Causing Website Errors

A growing audience is generally positive for a business, but increased traffic also creates additional demands on website infrastructure.

Shared hosting environments have resource limits. When visitor activity rises significantly, websites may experience slow responses, database connection problems, or temporary errors.

For example, a local restaurant might launch an online advertising campaign offering discounted meal packages. Hundreds of potential customers could visit its menu and reservation pages within a short period.

If the hosting environment cannot comfortably process those requests, customers may encounter unavailable pages or failed submissions.

Repeated problems during promotions, seasonal campaigns, or busy business hours suggest that the website needs a more capable hosting arrangement.

3. Your Business Is Becoming More Dependent on Its Website

At the beginning, a business website might simply provide an address, telephone number, and service description. As operations develop, the website may become an essential part of customer communication and sales.

Consider a local service provider that introduces appointment scheduling, customer registration, online payments, and automated email notifications.

These features require more processing, database activity, and reliable connections than a basic informational website.

When customers depend on your website to place orders, schedule appointments, or access important information, even a short interruption can create unnecessary problems.

At this stage, reliable hosting is no longer just a technical preference. It becomes part of maintaining normal business operations.

4. You Frequently Receive Resource Limit Warnings

Most hosting providers establish limits for CPU usage, memory consumption, storage, and other server resources.

These restrictions help maintain stability across shared hosting environments. However, growing websites can eventually approach or exceed the available limits.

Business owners should pay attention to notifications from their hosting providers, particularly when warnings become frequent.

Some common indicators include:

• Repeated CPU usage warnings.
• Memory consumption reaching allocated limits.
• Database connection errors.
• Restrictions on simultaneous processes.
• Temporary account limitations during busy periods.

Occasional warnings do not automatically mean an upgrade is necessary. However, recurring resource restrictions indicate that your website may require additional capacity.

Reviewing your hosting dashboard and monitoring usage over time can help you determine whether your current plan still meets your needs.

5. You Need Greater Security and Server Control

As a local business grows, it may begin collecting more customer information through registration forms, appointment systems, payment gateways, and online accounts.

This creates additional responsibilities for website security and data management.

Shared hosting providers generally maintain security controls for their server environments, but businesses with more demanding requirements may need greater isolation, customized configurations, and additional administrative control.

For example, an online store with several integrations may require specific software versions or server settings that are unavailable under its existing shared hosting package.

Moving to a more suitable hosting environment can provide greater flexibility, depending on the selected plan and provider.

Businesses should also maintain regular backups, use SSL certificates, update their applications, and follow appropriate security practices regardless of their hosting type.

6. Your Website Has Become Difficult to Expand

Business growth often involves introducing new services, publishing more content, adding product categories, or integrating third-party applications.

A hosting plan that supports a simple website may not provide enough flexibility for these developments.

For instance, a neighborhood clothing store might initially display only a few products. Later, it may introduce hundreds of product listings, customer accounts, inventory management, and online checkout.

These additional functions can increase resource requirements and make website management more demanding.

If your hosting environment restricts the software, configurations, or resources required for expansion, it may be time to explore an upgrade.

Which Hosting Option Should a Growing Local Business Choose?

Recognizing hosting limitations is only the first step. The next challenge is selecting an appropriate alternative.

Not every growing business needs the same infrastructure. The right choice depends on website traffic, technical requirements, expected growth, available budget, and the level of server management your team can handle.

VPS Hosting

Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting provides an isolated virtual environment with allocated resources on a physical server.

Compared with traditional shared hosting, VPS plans generally offer more control over server configurations and more predictable resource allocation.

It can be a suitable option for businesses that need additional capacity but do not yet require an entire physical server.

Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting uses interconnected servers to provide hosting resources. Depending on the provider and configuration, businesses can benefit from flexible resource allocation and additional scalability.

This option may suit websites with changing traffic patterns, growing applications, or unpredictable demand.

Dedicated Hosting

Dedicated hosting provides an entire physical server for one customer rather than sharing the server environment with unrelated websites.

For businesses managing resource-intensive applications, substantial website traffic, or demanding technical requirements, dedicated infrastructure can offer greater control and access to server resources.

Companies evaluating this option can explore BlueServers dedicated hosting when comparing hosting solutions for their growing infrastructure needs.

The important thing is to choose an environment that addresses your actual requirements instead of automatically selecting the most expensive package.

How to Prepare for a Hosting Upgrade

Moving away from shared hosting does not need to become a complicated project. With proper preparation, businesses can make the transition while reducing the possibility of disruption.

Consider the following steps before upgrading:

1. Review your current hosting usage

Check CPU consumption, memory usage, storage requirements, bandwidth, and any resource warnings. This information will help you understand what your website currently needs.

2. Identify performance problems

Test your website during different periods of the day. Review loading speeds, database performance, and error logs to determine whether hosting resources are contributing to the problem.

3. Estimate future requirements

Consider your business plans for the next six to twelve months. New products, additional services, marketing campaigns, and increased customer activity may influence your hosting requirements.

4. Compare hosting providers

Evaluate available resources, security features, technical support, backup arrangements, server management, and upgrade flexibility. Do not make a decision based solely on introductory pricing.

5. Arrange a complete backup

Before migration, create backups of your website files, databases, email accounts, and relevant configurations. Confirm that the backup can be restored if necessary.

6. Test the website after migration

Once the migration is complete, check important pages, contact forms, customer accounts, payment functionality, and email notifications. Also verify that SSL certificates and DNS settings are working correctly.

A carefully planned migration can help protect business operations while providing the additional resources needed for future development.

When Should You Stay on Shared Hosting?

Upgrading is not always the best decision. Some businesses continue operating successfully on shared hosting for years because their websites have relatively simple requirements.

If your website loads reliably, receives manageable traffic, stays within its resource limits, and does not require advanced configurations, there may be little reason to change your current arrangement.

Before upgrading, consider whether website optimization could solve existing problems. Compressing images, enabling caching, removing unnecessary plugins, and improving database performance can sometimes deliver noticeable improvements without increasing hosting expenses.

The objective should be to invest in better infrastructure when your business genuinely needs it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know when to upgrade from shared hosting?

Recurring slowdowns, resource limit warnings, traffic-related errors, and increasing technical requirements are common indicators. If these problems continue after website optimization, consider moving to a more capable hosting environment.

Is shared hosting suitable for a growing online store?

Shared hosting can support smaller online stores with manageable traffic and basic functionality. However, stores experiencing increasing orders, more simultaneous visitors, and complex integrations may eventually require VPS, cloud, or dedicated hosting.

Does dedicated hosting automatically make a website faster?

Not necessarily. Dedicated hosting provides access to an entire server's resources, but website speed also depends on application code, database performance, caching, server configuration, and content optimization.

Can I upgrade hosting without rebuilding my website?

In most cases, yes. Website files, databases, and configurations can generally be migrated to a new hosting environment without rebuilding the entire website. Proper backups and testing are important to minimize disruption.

Should I upgrade before my business experiences downtime?

If monitoring shows that your website is consistently approaching resource limits or struggling during predictable traffic increases, upgrading before major problems develop can be a sensible decision.

Conclusion

A growing local business should not allow outdated hosting infrastructure to become an obstacle to its online development. Shared hosting remains an affordable starting point, but increasing traffic, additional website functionality, security requirements, and greater dependence on online operations can eventually make an upgrade necessary.

The best approach is to monitor website performance, understand current resource limitations, and evaluate future business requirements before choosing another hosting solution.

Knowing when to upgrade from shared hosting allows business owners to make informed infrastructure decisions, maintain a better customer experience, and prepare their websites for sustainable growth.

BOZEMAN – The general hunting season is halfway through, and hunter numbers and success have been mixed in southwestern Montana.

The season so far has brought unseasonably mild weather, which can provide favorable access conditions for hunters but keep wildlife herds disbursed at higher elevations in some areas.

Wildlife biologists operate game check stations to collect data on hunter participation and success, as well as the species, sex and age class of the animals harvested. This supplements data collected through hunter harvest phone surveys each year.

Hunters are required to stop at game check stations they encounter, regardless of whether they harvested an animal.

Over Nov. 7 and 8, biologists operated check stations in Alder, Cameron and Divide. They met with 759 hunters who collectively harvested 39 elk, 29 mule deer and two white-tailed deer, among other species.

Wildlife staff met with 184 hunters at the Alder check station, about 18 percent fewer than average for that weekend. More than 11 percent of those hunters were successful, compared with an average of 14 percent.

Some 342 hunters came through the Cameron check station, just 10 fewer hunters than average. Just over 10 percent were successful, compared with an average success rate of 9 percent.

At the Divide check station, wildlife staff met with 233 hunters over the weekend. That’s about 17 percent more than average. Hunter effort, measured in days afield, was 45 percent greater than average, with the weekend’s hunter success rate of 8 percent being about 7 percent above average.

Hunters continue to report seeing tracks from both black bears and grizzly bears. Bears are still active throughout the general season, so it’s important for hunters to be bear aware. For tips on how to hunt safely in bear country, click here.

BOZEMAN -- The City of Bozeman has just completed the North 27th Avenue Connection construction project, linking North 27th from Durston all the way up to East Valley Center. The road is now paved and fully open to serve the public and connect neighborhoods.

This project, twenty years in the making, includes several road improvements to improve safety, connectivity, and access for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians. The new North 27th Avenue section runs from Baxter Lane to Cattail Street and includes left-turn lanes, shared-use paths in each direction, street lighting and landscaping, a signal at the Baxter Lane intersection, and a roundabout at the Cattail intersection.

The project totaled $5.7 million in public infrastructure investments and involved months of work, from initial planning, right-of-way acquisition, and engineering in 2025 through construction this year. The new road improves north-south traffic flow in west Bozeman and offers improved connectivity to businesses and homes.

“We are excited to open the North 27th Avenue Connection project to everyone in Bozeman,” said City Engineer Emiliano Esparza. “We appreciate our community’s patience and understanding during this construction phase, and we look forward to sharing the reconstructed road’s traffic and safety improvements with our community.”

For more information on City construction projects, visit bozemanstreetreport.com.

Locally owned Belle Farms welcomes guests to 16 European-inspired chalet-style cabins, organic lavender fields and a farm-to-product experience just 30 miles from Yellowstone National Park.

PARADISE VALLEY — Belle Farms, a regenerative lavender farm and luxury guest retreat, will open spring 2027 in Montana’s Paradise Valley. Located 30 miles from Yellowstone National Park, the 130-acre property features 16 uniquely designed chalet-style cabins alongside a Certified Organic farm growing lavender and other botanicals for its line of farm-made artisan skincare products. Founded by Montana locals McCall and Nick Renold, the vision of Belle Farms grew from a shared desire to build a life around what matters most: celebrating the land while leaving it better than it was found.

“After years spent pursuing demanding careers and traveling the world, Nick and I returned to Montana to create something of our own,” said McCall Renold, co-owner of Belle Farms. “As a second-generation Montanan and first-generation female farmer, Belle Farms represents a personal definition of success for me, and we are elated to begin welcoming guests to slow down and appreciate the beauty in every day.”

Inspired by the lavender estates of provincial France, Belle Farms marries an Old World aesthetic with the wild spirit of southwest Montana. Its 16 chalet-style cabins are set in two distinct settings across the property, with eight nestled near the farm’s lavender and wildflower fields, and eight remotely positioned along a ridge with 270° views overlooking the valley and surrounding mountains. Each cabin evokes vintage European style, with white oak walls, arched mahogany-enamel fireplaces, unlacquered brass fixtures and custom teak furniture. Drawing on the eclectic warmth of European mountain homes, one-of-a-kind antiques, vintage rugs, handmade quilts, French-made copper cookware and heirloom details place an emphasis on storied craftsmanship.

Accommodations are comprised of 11 king cabins with sleeper sofas, and five family cabins with king beds, sleeper sofas and bunk beds. Creating a secluded setting to unwind against the surrounding landscape, select king cabins feature private saunas, outdoor showers and carved soaking tubs. 

Belle Farms is designed as an analog reset within Montana’s peaceful outdoor setting, where guests can find games, cards and tea sets in place of TVs to encourage time away from screens. Each cabin includes a fully stocked kitchen with a full-size refrigerator and freezer, a two-burner electric cooktop and a sink, and a copper tea kettle and French press – purposefully accompanied by locally roasted coffee and Belle Farms tea blends. At night when the dark skies above come alive, custom star maps and exterior Dark Sky lighting make it easier for guests to explore.

The Belle Farms experience is intended to connect guests with the origins of their surroundings, from honey sourced from the on-site apiary to estate-made bath amenities. The Certified Organic farm produces the lavender, chamomile, calendula, arnica and other botanicals used in its skincare, bath and lifestyle products, and the farm incorporates pollinator sanctuaries to support the wider ecosystem of Paradise Valley. Guests can meander along the property-wide walking trails, ponds, and fields, while farm tours provide education about the plants and regenerative practices that define Belle Farms’ mission. 

A Farm Shop open to the public sells Belle Farms’ products as well as coffee, snacks, groceries and goods from local producers, so guests can pick up provisions, picnic baskets and blankets to get lost in the mountain scenery or picnic beside the ponds. Plans also include seasonal farm dinners with local chefs, farm breakfast baskets and a concierge responsible for arranging experiences with regional outfitters, from horseback riding and fishing to guided tours at Yellowstone National Park. 

“Belle Farms is about creating a place to remind people to slow down and enjoy the beautiful little moments and rituals in the everyday. These moments are what add up to a beautiful life, if only we take the time to notice and enjoy them. And a big part of this philosophy is the simplicity of a return to nature,” said McCall Renold. “We hope guests leave feeling more connected to the land, to the people they traveled with and to themselves. And that they can bring this feeling of presence back home from Montana.”

Reservations for stays in 2027 are now available. For more information or to make reservations, visit bellefarmsmontana.com. 

The Christmas Stroll has been one of the longest-standing Bozeman community traditions and with that, the Annual Poster Design unveiling! This year, the Downtown Bozeman Association selected to commission a local artist.

The 46th Annual Christmas Stroll Poster celebrates the magic of the holiday season in Downtown Bozeman. Featuring a whimsical hand-drawn illustration of the iconic Ellen storefront dressed for the holidays, the design captures the charm, character, and festive spirit that make this community tradition so special!

Meet the artist behind the 46th Annual Christmas Stroll Poster design – Brigid Florian.


Brigid Florian is a graphic designer and illustrator based in Bozeman, Montana. With a background in illustration, fine art, and all things design, she creates work defined by flowing organic lines, meticulous detail, and a deep sense of human connection. Her hand-drawn illustrations can be found locally at Second Wind in Bozeman, where they appear on stickers.

Brigid believes design has the power to evoke emotion, provoke thought, and inspire action. Her creative goal is to build meaningful connections with her audience and spark conversations that lead to positive change.

The 46th Annual Christmas Stroll Poster design by Brigid will adorn all businesses windows in Downtown Bozeman and will be featured on all event marketing materials. In addition to the notoriety of having her artwork featured, a $300 cash ‘thank you’ has been issued to the commissioned artist, Brigid Florian!

Find more of Brigid’s work on her Instagram and website: https://www.brigiddesign.com/

A full list of the 46th Annual Christmas Stroll activities and event details will be available on downtownbozeman.org/stroll soon!

BOZEMAN -- The City of Bozeman has launched a new community-wide program to name the Streets Division’s snowplows and graders. Each year, the City will open community naming and voting for one snowplow and one grader until all equipment has its own name.

This year, community members can submit names on the Name the Plow! webpage at engage.bozemanmt.gov/plows from Nov. 9 to 30. City staff will then select a shortlist of names. Community voting on the shortlist will open on Dec. 7 and run through Dec. 28. The City will announce the first named snowplow and grader on Jan. 5.

“Naming our snowplows and graders helps bring us together as a community,” said Streets Division Superintendent Matthew Workman. “Our Streets Division works hard to plow Bozeman’s streets every year, and this program is a great way for community members to connect with our Streets operators.”

Each year, the Streets Division plows and sands hundreds of miles of City streets, using a fleet of ten plows and seven graders. The Streets Division reminds residents to park off street and move vehicles when possible to allow plows easy access to clear snow.

To learn more about Name the Plow, submit a name, and vote on the shortlist, visit the Engage page at engage.bozemanmt.gov/plows. To learn more about plowing operations and see the Winter Operations dashboard, visit the website at https://www.bozemanmt.gov/departments/transportation-engineering/streets/snow-plowing.

HELENA – Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) continues to be a concern in Montana. While Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff have received several calls from bird hunters and other outdoor recreationists about sick-looking wildlife, it’s important to keep in mind that animals infected with HPAI don’t always show symptoms.

HPAI is a naturally occurring virus that is extremely infectious and fatal to poultry and some species of wild birds and mammals. It was first detected in wild birds and domestic poultry in Montana in spring 2022. Symptoms include respiratory distress, weakness, lack of coordination, seizures and death, but affected birds are often simply found dead.  

People should take precautions when handling harvested game birds or any sick or dead bird they find. Whenever possible, avoid contact with sick or dead wildlife. Even if a contagious disease is not suspected, gloves should always be worn if a dead animal must be handled for disposal. 

In Montana, various duck species are most likely to carry the virus without symptoms, while geese and raptors have been the most common wild birds to die from the virus.

Bird hunters should follow these simple precautions when processing or handling wild game: 

Do not harvest or handle wild birds that are obviously sick or found dead. 
Keep dogs away from sick or dead waterfowl, and do not feed raw scraps to domestic animals. 
Wear disposable latex or rubber gloves while cleaning game or cleaning bird feeders. 
Clean game birds outdoors in a well-ventilated area. 
Do not eat, drink or smoke while cleaning game. 

Avoid contact between people, equipment and materials that have been in contact with wild birds and backyard poultry flocks to avoid bringing the virus back to your flock. 

Wash hands with soap and water or alcohol wipes immediately after handling game or cleaning bird feeders. 
Wash tools and work surfaces used to clean game birds with soap and water, then disinfect with a 10 percent solution of chlorine bleach—one part chlorine bleach to 10 parts water. 

Separate raw meat, and anything it touches, from cooked or ready-to-eat foods to avoid contamination. 
Cook game meat thoroughly to an internal temperature of at least 165°F. 

Poultry owners should maintain separation between wild birds and domestic poultry. Bird feeders should not be kept near poultry and should be cleaned regularly with a 10 percent bleach solution. Disposable gloves should be worn when cleaning bird feeders. 

For more information on poultry biosecurity, visit www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/defend-the-flock-program/dtf-resources/dtf-resources.

Raptors are susceptible to HPAI and are typically exposed by eating infected birds. Falconers should consider avoiding hunting and/or feeding wild birds, particularly waterfowl to their falcons during the outbreak. Enhanced biosecurity practices, cleaning and limiting contact with wild birds or birds from other facilities is also warranted. Sick falcons should be promptly reported to a veterinarian and be quarantined from other birds in the facility

For more information on HPAI in wild birds, visit  fwp.mt.gov/conservation/diseases/avian-influenza, or visit the USGS website at www.usgs.gov/centers/nwhc/science/avian-influenza-surveillance.

For information on HPAI in humans, visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/prevention/hpai-interim-recommendations.html. 

Chef Arendt brings French technique, Montana-first sourcing and a new weekly three-course Menu du Jour

BOZEMAN  — La Brasserie, the French bistro and urban winery in downtown Bozeman, has named Benjamin Arendt executive chef and partner. A Culinary Institute of America graduate, Arendt combines French culinary technique and hospitality with the ingredients, seasons and producer relationships of southwest Montana.

“French cuisine has always been about place, season and the people who produce the ingredients,” said Arendt. “I’m excited to build real relationships with Montana ranchers, growers and foragers, then let those relationships guide what we create at La Brasserie. The goal is food that feels rooted here while still carrying the warmth, care and tradition of a French table.”

Arendt’s experience includes Crew Restaurant & Bar in New York’s Hudson Valley; Leon’s Oyster Shop in Charleston; Salt Lake City’s Table X; Forbes Five-Star Stein Eriksen Lodge in Park City; and Sauvage in Steamboat Springs, where he served as sous chef before going on to become an executive chef leading his own brigade. Those kitchens shaped his focus on precise technique, seasonal menus, preservation and thoughtful wine pairing.

At La Brasserie, Arendt will focus on using Montana ingredients to cook French influenced food in a relaxed, welcoming setting. He is connecting with local producers and allowing seasonal availability to guide the restaurant’s evolving menu.

Current ranch and farm partners include Amaltheia Farm and Dairy, Bausch Potato Farm, Chance Farms and Wickens Ranch.

New menu highlights include Parisian gnocchi that takes a seasonal approach to the classic French dumpling; the Amaltheia salad, composed entirely of what the Gallatin Valley produces; and trout amandine, featuring Rocky Mountain trout from a sustainable trout farm served alongside local produce.

Guests can experience Arendt’s cooking through La Brasserie’s new weekly Menu du Jour, a three-course prix fixe menu priced from $25 to $45. Designed to make French dining accessible to the local community, the menu will change each week and highlight ingredients from featured Montana farms and ranches. Each menu will be paired with wines from La Brasserie’s urban winery.

“Chef Ben brings exactly the kind of energy and perspective we want at La Brasserie. He has talent, genuine curiosity and a deep respect for the community around him,” said Aloys Scheer, owner of La Brasserie. “His cooking honors French tradition while making room for the remarkable ingredients produced right here in Montana.”

La Brasserie welcomes guests to its intimate downtown dining room. The restaurant also offers a private dining room for seated groups of up to 14 guests, as well as full-restaurant buyouts for celebrations and events of up to 50 guests.

For reservations, private-event inquiries and more information, visit labrasseriemt.com.

HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Future Fisheries Citizen Review Panel is seeking a current resident licensed angler to fill a two-year term.   

BOZEMAN - The City of Bozeman, in partnership with DOWL and Williams Civil Construction, will begin installing new sewer infrastructure through Cooper Park next week. This work is part of the City’s multi-phase West Kagy to Babcock Sewer Improvements project.

“We recognize how much use Cooper Park gets, so we’re aiming to complete this work as quickly, safely, and efficiently as possible to lessen impacts to park users and surrounding residents,” said City Engineer Emiliano Esparza. “While temporary access changes and closures are inconvenient, we ask everyone to remain patient and use alternate routes around the work zone. Respecting barricades, signs, and other traffic control devices is essential to maintaining a safe environment for park visitors and workers.”

Phase 1 of the West Kagy to Babcock Sewer Improvements project has been split into two separate construction schedules to mitigate impacts on the traveling public. Schedule 1 wrapped up at the end of October and included sewer improvements along West Kagy Boulevard. Schedule 2 includes upcoming sewer improvements between West Babcock and West College streets, with initial construction activities in Cooper Park.

During Cooper Park construction, the public can expect:
The park will remain open, but access to some facilities through the middle of the park will be temporarily fenced off for public safety.

There will be temporary, intermittent street and sidewalk closures on West Koch and West Story streets, which will require drivers and pedestrians to use alternative routes at times.

The memorial bricks surrounding the Cooper Park water fountain will be carefully removed and put back once work is complete to preserve them.

The trees within and adjacent to the construction area will be protected. One unhealthy boulevard tree on the south side of Cooper Park, near the intersection with S 7th Ave, will be removed as part of this project due to its proximity to underground infrastructure.

Construction of sewer improvements in Cooper Park and the surrounding neighborhoods is anticipated to continue through the winter (weather permitting) and be completed by fall 2027.

Members of the public are encouraged to stay informed by signing up for email or text notifications via the Bozeman Street Report, which can be done by clicking the “eNotifications” link at the top of the project website. Questions and comments can be directed to kagysewer@dowl.com or 406-281-7604.