Engineers soon could be taking a look at options for a southern bypass around Minot.

The North Dakota Department of Transportation, working with Ward County, received three engineering proposals to conduct a study. Interviews with the companies are scheduled for Tuesday.

The southeast-southwest corridor study will consider an access point for a new route that would begin on the west side of Minot. Heading south, it would cross Ward County Highway 14 and veer east to intercept U.S. Highway 83, continuing to connect with U.S. Highway 52 at a point southeast of Minot.

The purpose of the study will be to define proposed corridor routes, Ward County Highway Engineer Dana Larsen told the Ward County Commission Tuesday.

“We are looking for multiple alternatives,” he said. “The study will actually be producing not only a report but also recommendations and costs and impacts to where we can turn around and move right into some decisions.”

The study will look at impacts to intersections and developed areas as well as environmental concerns. The study is expected to take a year.

“We’re probably one of the first counties that is not a part of a metropolitan area that is doing this type of study with federal aid through the DOT,” Larsen said. “DOT is excited to see how all this works because I think it could be used in a number of other counties that that fall below this metropolitan area (designation) but also have the same challenges.”