Yellowstone County commissioners voted 3-0 Tuesday to finalize an agreement requiring Big Sky Digital Infrastructure to cover road wear associated with the first phase of its planned data center project south of Broadview.

The agreement concerns access and road maintenance for the Quantica project. It does not authorize land use, water access, or electricity for the development.

Road requirements

The approved transportation route includes one mile of Heiken Road and four miles of Buffalo Trail Road. Big Sky Digital Infrastructure may use only that route to move project materials.

The company must use drone imagery to document existing road conditions and inspect the route each week. It also must build a new gravel road along the one-mile Heiken Road section. No improvements to Buffalo Trail Road are required during the first phase.

If Yellowstone County requests additional work, the developer must hire a county-approved contractor within 72 hours for blading, dust control and related services. The company must also provide a $250,000 surety bond.

Initial project schedule

Big Sky Digital Infrastructure expects to begin work Nov. 1. The initial work includes replacing an existing two-track road and constructing a gravel pad for a well on the company’s nearly 8-square-mile property.

The well is expected to be drilled by May 1, 2027. The current agreement covers the road work and well associated with the initial phase; later project activity will likely require another agreement.

Heiken Road improvements will be awarded through a public bidding process conducted with Yellowstone County.

Agreement’s scope

Monica Plecker introduced the agreement at an Oct. 15 meeting. Plecker said the document addresses road use and condition rather than broader project approvals.

“In no way is this agreement any sort of approval for land use, water, electricity,” Plecker said. She added, “We are talking about the condition of the road and the use of the road.”