Howdy builders of Montana!

Happy to see you back where we cover blue collar/build topics around the Northern Rockies. Today, we are investigating US wide concrete prices, ski lots, finding some fun deals on marketplace, checking out a few builds around Bozeman, and keeping up on some other Nationwide trends. We have some awesome content aligned for the weeks ahead so stay tuned!

Keep the saw sharp,

Daniel

PS. We’re always looking for new content and to check out various jobsites, feel free to respond with whatever you’re working on.

When, what, and who is the Bozeman Build? The BB is a 1x/week free email newsletter delivered every Monday morning focused on trades in the Northern Rockies with an emphasis on Montana. The author is Daniel Z who has a background in accounting, commodities, construction, trucking, and has a small business called blockbiome. Daniel is not a financial or building advisor.

Block Biome + Bozeman Build research

Last week, we wrapped up a concrete price study where we gathered ready mix quotes from over 198 locations across the United States. Here is a graph representing the prices across our nation. Read the study summary here. Full data sheet is available for purchase at blockbiome.com/research

*If you have interest in any particular price research - please reach out!

Ranking ski town land costs

Looking for a good deal on land, look no further! For kicks we put together a price comparison chart between some ski towns in the Rockies region. I also analyzed a good handful of other resorts including Aspen which had lot prices that were no where close to reality - someone was asking 9.5M for .18 acres.

Each bar represents the average of 3 lot prices located within 16 minute drive of a lift, graph input data is located below the bar chart for reference.

The data below created the bar chart graph above and is the average of 3 lots, each lot needed to be within a 16 minute drive of a chair lift and within reason of its comps.

If I were to set up a T bar in my yard, will that increase the value of my neighborhood?

Craigslist/Marketplace finds of the week.

Lots of free crap from college kids moving out, some snow equipment, and an overpriced Cybertruck.

Why spend 150k on a Tesla when you could spend $120k on a SnowGo Blower or start saving for your dream ski cabin?

Commodities

Prices as of Friday May 17th 2024 around 11am. WoW = Week over Week. Montana hard commodities having a good week including a rally scene in Copper, Natural Gas, and Platinum.

Montana Hard

Montana Soft

Big swings last week

Local, State, US Wide Trade Pulse

Bozeman trade pulse

Community Development

There were 7 projects added to Bozeman’s Project Document portal last week on Wednesday 05/15, 5 of them had documents attached. Bozeman Project Information Portal

• 24225 - A Zone Text Amendment for a minor update to the NEHMU zoning district.

• 24216 - The applicant is seeking a Planned Development Zone (PDZ) zone map

  amendment to the parcel known as the MSU Innovation Campus.

• 24207 - ADU permitting request

• 24196 - Minor Subdivision No 494 Block 1: Lot 1, 2, 3, 4

• 24172 - Master Site Plan Application for 224-unit project

Bozeman Real Estate Charting

This real estate market report takes data available from the Big Sky Country MLS and turns it into the information you want to know about Bozeman’s real estate market Bozeman Real Estate Group

Presenting data such as:

• IS BOZEMAN, MT A BUYER’S OR SELLER’S MARKET?

• HOW MANY HOMES HAVE SOLD IN BOZEMAN, MT?

• HOW MANY HOMES SOLD OVER THE

  ASKING PRICE IN BOZEMAN, MT?

• HOW LONG DOES A HOME SPEND ON THE MARKET?

Plowing Hyalite

Some last minute road work up Hyalite, there were a few patches of pavement that are being redone and a few boulders on the side of the road that will assumingly be completed before the gates opened last Friday 05/17 at noon.

Apparently the snow 2 weeks ago delayed road work which pushed back the opening date - USDA

Town and more Pumps

It appears that the Town and Pump off S Cottonwood is expanding its pump capacity contracted by Hoffman's R & M Services of Butte. It appears that they were making quick work of this pour having 4 Kenyon Ready mix trucks lined up already at 6:20AM.

Bozeman Build of the week

3 workers building the form for a concrete column on the Freestone Apartment Build off Main.

Bozeman remodel of the week

This ones been in the works forever now, not sure what the backstory is. Good luck to the contractor finishing this out. Jobsite is located off Wilson.

Montana trade pulse

Construction of the new Carbella Bridge replacing the Tom Miner Bridge that washed out during the historic flood in June 2022. Great shot, work, and i’m sure the residents that live off Old Yellowstone Road couldn’t be more excited. Photo and contractor credit to Battle Ridge Builders.

Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority: ‘We are no longer debating feasibility’ - KPAX Missoula - More passenger rail through Montana isn’t just a hope and a dream, it’s a plan that’s chugging its way to reality, according to a report this week from the Big Sky Rail Authority.

Second Montana ski resort looks to turn wastewater into powder - MTFP - The Spanish Peaks Mountain Club in Big Sky has asked for a permit from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to let it turn wastewater into snow for skiing and snowboarding.

MDT News

Only 2 announcements this week. MDT News

• 20240517-124728 | Final Work To Begin On North 7th Avenue And Griffin Drive - released May-17-2024

• 20240515-135035 | US 287 North Of Augusta Project Open House - released May-15-2024

MDT Tentative Construction Projects 2024-2028

USA wide highlights

Bozeman Builds top picks from the Construction Dive released May 13-17.

As backlog rises, so does contractors’ confidence New work increased 2.4% last month, but only time will tell if construction optimism is justified in the face of fresh headwinds, said ABC’s chief economist.

Construction input prices jump again, continue 2024’s upward climb A new ABC report points to yet another sign that inflation is accelerating and that interest rates are set to stay higher for longer.

Fluor-led JV breaks ground on $700M Interstate 35 expansion in Texas The project is one of five phases of a 20-mile overhaul of the much-traveled corridor through San Antonio.

$3.6B Brent Spence Bridge clears environmental review The megaproject between Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky aims to address a key congested freight link and fortify the supply chain.

More money needed for infrastructure fixes: ASCE Supply chain challenges and extreme weather are keeping the investment gap from being noticeably reduced, the American Society of Civil Engineers said.

Ag, Mining, and Transport

Ag

30,000-acre property marks one of the state’s priciest sales ever Oil magnate Steve Rooney buys Montana cattle ranch for $50M - The Real Deal

Solar Storms Knocked Connected Machines Offline: So Now What? By now you've surely read the reports: a very intense solar storm in space disrupted farm machinery telematics last Friday. For some, the situation lasted well into the weekend during the heart of planting season. -Agweb

Mining/Oil

Bridger Pipeline LLC Acquires Bayou Midstream Bakken, LLC CASPER, WYOMING, USA, May 8, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ -- (Casper, Wyoming) Bridger Pipeline LLC (“Bridger”) announced today that it has acquired Bayou Midstream Bakken, LLC (“Bayou Midstream") based in Houston, Texas. - Oil & Gas Industry Today

Drummond leads multistate fight against EPA requirement - OKLAHOMA CITY (May 9, 2024) – Attorney General Gentner Drummond is leading a 14-state coalition in filing with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit a petition for review against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). - Oil & Gas Industry Today

Solitario Resources soars on gold discoveries in South Dakota mine district Solitario Resources’ (TSX: SLR) share price surged to its highest in over three years on Wednesday after discovery of multiple high-grade gold zones at its Golden Crest project in Lead South Dakota. - Mining.com

Transport

High school seeks truck driver exemption for students under 18 An eastern Washington high school has petitioned federal regulators to let 17-year-olds enrolled in its CDL program obtain a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) to help students get a truck driver job immediately upon graduating. - Freight Waves

17 states sue to block California’s Advanced Clean Fleets rule A group of states that loosely parallels those that filed suit last year to stop California’s Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule have taken similar action against the state’s Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) rule, seeking to stop the ACF while it awaits a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency. - Freight Waves

Borderlands Mexico: Tractor-trailer thefts in Mexico totaled 153 in April In April, Mexico averaged about five cargo truck thefts per day, totaling 153 incidents across the country’s roadways, according to the National Association of Vehicle Tracking and Protection Companies (ANERPV). - Freight Waves

Amtrak Daily Long-Distance Service Study The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is conducting an Amtrak Daily Long-Distance Service Study to evaluate the restoration of daily long-distance intercity rail passenger service and the potential for new Amtrak long-distance routes. This study will ultimately create a long-term vision for long-distance passenger rail service and identify capital projects and funding needed to implement that vision. -FRA

Misc of the week

The Rich Outdoors - Podcast hosted by Cody Rich a hunter and serial entrepreneur who lives in Montana

The Lift Blog - a website laser focused on chairlifts founded by Peter Landsman who works in lift operations at Jackson Hole

Rich Men North of Richmond - Oliver Anthony Music

Thank you for reading,

-Daniel

The best compliment you can leave is a referral or feedback!

[this is not building, financial, or real estate advice]

bozemanbuild.com