This summer’s road construction season will be very busy in North Dakota.
State transportation director Grant Levi says the 2013 Legislature appropriated $1.6 billion for the biennium for roads. Another $617 million was set aside for city and county work. Levi says last year, $878 million worth of construction work was bid.
"Some of that is going to carry over, intentionally, into this construction season," said Levi. "That, combined with about 300 new projects, and about $815 million worth of work, will really give us the busiest construction season in our history."
Levi says much of the activity will be in western North Dakota.
"We're basically rebuilding our infrastructure," said Levi. "We'll be tearing roadways apart from the base up. And that creates some real challenges for the traveling public."
Levi says major projects will occur along the US 85 and ND 22. He says one of the major projects is the four laning of US 85.
"There will be travel delays between Watford City and Alexander on 85," said Levi. "Later in the summer, we'll bid the work from north of Alexander into Williston."
The Alexander to Williston porton will take another construction season to complete, said Levi. He said part of the reason is the replacement of the Lewis and Clark Bridge over the Missouri River.
"We're replacing the entire bridge with a four-lane structure," said Levi. "The existing bridge is not that old, but it has some maintenance challenges. So it was just cost effective for us to put in a brand new bridge."
Levi says the existing bridge will remain open to traffic – while the new bridge is being built.
Levi is asking drivers to be patient. He says they can check the Department’s Web site – to see where the construction is – and what kind of delays they can expect.
