Regional North-South Beltway Corridor Study

Bismarck-Mandan, North Dakota

The Regional North-South Beltway Corridor Study was undertaken to plan future north-south roadways and interstate interchanges on the east side of Bismarck and on the west side of Mandan.  These roadways and interchanges would serve as part of the planned beltway around Bismarck and Mandan.  They would also become important arterial facilities serving commuter traffic and future area growth.

Background:  The Bismarck Mandan Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) initiated the Regional North-South Beltway Corridor Study on August 22, 2007.  This study, scheduled to be completed by April 1, 2009, has the following objectives:

Study Objectives

• To establish the justification for the beltway corridors and interchanges
• To develop defendable alternatives that maximize the functional attributes of the north – south beltway corridors and interchanges
• To identify potential impacts and associated mitigation strategies
• To facilitate stakeholder and decision maker involvement
• To select the short and long range optimum alignments for the north – south beltway corridors
• To secure jurisdictional concurrence on preferred alternatives and implementation strategies

Website Updates

The website will be updated on a regular basis.  Updates will include technical meeting summaries and status reports provided to planning commissions and elected bodies, as well as other important project related information.

Activities Scheduled Through November 26, 2008: 

Throughout the second half of 2008, the consultant finished remaining corridor analysis and submitted a draft Report for review and comments.  The draft Report has been placed for public viewing at the local libraries and City and County planning offices.  Public input meetings have been advertised in the newspapers, along with letters sent to landowners.

Activities Completed Through September 30, 2007: 

A Steering Committee was assembled to guide and respond to planning efforts undertaken over the course of the Study.  The Committee held their first meeting on September 17, 2007.  At that meeting they discussed the full range of alignment alternatives that should be considered by the Study.  They also considered analysis that should be undertaken to determine the type of implementation that might have future justification.

Activities Completed Through October 31, 2007: 

During the month of October, the consultant used traffic projections supplied by the Advanced Traffic Data Center (ATAC) to analyze conditions both with and without the proposed beltway corridors and interchanges.  The consultant met again with the Steering Committee to receive their feedback on the analysis.

Activities Scheduled Through December 31, 2007: 

Throughout the remainder of 2007, the consultant will be working with the MPO to validate analysis for Mandan and Morton County.  Public input meetings have been scheduled and will be held in November (See Section on Public Input).

Activities Scheduled Through June 30, 2008: 

Throughout the first half of 2008, the consultant compared alignment location alternatives.  These comparisons were completed and presented to the Steering Committee, who made preliminary alternative selections for further, more detailed analysis. 

Detailed analysis has also been completed and briefings have been scheduled in early July to be made to the elected officials.  Public input meetings have also been scheduled and will be held on July 15 in Mandan and July 17 in Bismarck. (See Section on Public Input).

Steering Committee Members

Mark Berg, Bismarck Traffic Engineer

Carl Hokenstad, Bismarck Planning Director

Jon Mill, Burleigh County Engineer

Sarah Baehurst, Mandan City Planner

Chuck Morman, Morton County Highway Superintendant

Glenn Christmann, Mayor, City of Lincoln

Paul Benning, NDDOT

Steve Saunders, MPO Planner

Steve Grabill, Ulteig Engineers

Steve Windish, Ulteig Engineers

Public Input Plan

Presentations are scheduled to each planning commission through the month of March, and public hearings are scheduled to be held with the elected bodies throughout April and early May 2009 during the adoption phase of the study

Please contact us if you have ideas, questions or comments.  Steve Windish, Project Manager – 701-355-2333, Steve.Windish@Ulteig.com.