June 14, 2016

Road construction season starts

By Jack Dura
Farmer Staff Writer

As summer gets underway, so does road construction season.
The North Dakota Department of Transportation reported 15 road improvement projects planned within McKenzie County, amounting to $56.4 million in construction bids this year in the county.
Construction began Friday, June 3, on a widening project on U.S. Highway 85 between the junctions of North Dakota Highways 23 and 23A.
Work includes widening, paving, turn lanes, lighting and signals for this section of road leading north into Watford City. NDDOT spokeswoman Jamie Olson said the work will likely be completed in the fall.
There are no lane closures, but traffic has shifted to the east side of the road to allow for work on the west. Speeds are also reduced.
Work is also underway on Highway 23 between Seventh Street to  a mile east of the North Dakota Highway 1806 junction, including the Cherry Creek Bridge in a carryover project.
Further construction is set for Highway 23 with widening and paving from Johnson Corners north to near the Highway 22 junction, another carryover project.
Also near Johnson Corners is a chip seal coat on state Highway 73 from Johnson Corners east to the Highway 22 junction, a project a little over 11 miles.
Another chip seal coat is in the works on Highway 1806 from the Highway 23 junction to Charlson, about eight miles long.
More work on Highway 23 is underway with grading, paving and a roundabout at the highway’s intersection with McKenzie County Road 10 near Keene, a project about 3,700 feet long.
Across the county, a slurry seal is underway for Highway 85 north of Grassy Butte to the north end of the Long X Bridge, a 6.3-mile project.
Another slurry seal is under construction on U.S. Highway 85B south of Alexander to Highway 85, just under three miles.
Another project in the area involves paving North Dakota Highway 68, 28 miles east from Montana to Highway 85, with traffic signal work at the intersection near Alexander.
Further projects are working west in the county, including widening and paving North Dakota Highway 58 near Fairview, Mont., with a concrete overlay between the junctions of North Dakota Highways 200 and 1804.
More work is widening, paving, grading and addressing turn lanes on Highway 200’s Yellowstone Bridge, east to Highway 85, just over 14 miles.
More improvements are underway for the Lewis and Clark Bridge on Highway 85, including a carryover project stretching from four miles south of the bridge to Williston. A wildlife crossing is also under construction for the bridge.
Over 187 miles of road improvement projects are planned for northwestern North Dakota this season, the NDDOT reported in an online video.
NDDOT projects for 2016 can be found online at nddotwilliston.com/2016-projects.

WATFORD CITY WEATHER