Members of the public who attended the public input meeting on improvements to the intersection of U.S. Highway 83 and N.D. Highway 23 indicated a strong preference for an interchange and some suggested other less extensive and more inexpensive changes that could make the intersection safer.

Handling about 2,800 vehicles a day, the intersection of Highways 83 and 23 is the state’s #1 for serious crashes. There have been 10 minor crashes and seven severe crashes involving death or incapacitating injuries in the past five years, including three fatalities in 2023.

The solution presented Wednesday by the North Dakota Department of Transportation calls for a roundabout on each side of the four lanes of Highway 83 where Highway 23 crosses. If the state proceeds, construction would start this summer.

A roundabout would slow approaching traffic to 45 mph, with a recommended speed of 25 mph through the roundabout, prompting residents to suggest the state save $16 million and just lower the speed limit to reduce serious crashes.

Norval Semchenko, right, shares his concerns about a roundabout at the U.S. Highway 83 and North Dakota Highway 23 intersection during a public input meeting in Max Tuesday.

“I’m not in favor of slowing the traffic down on 83 either, but if this roundabout is going to slow us down to 45, why not slow the traffic down to 45 right now and just see what happens,” Robbin Plesuk of Max said. “We’ve got to get that traffic slowed down coming from the west because that’s where most of our accidents are happening. People are not paying attention.”

Duane Schroeder, Max, who drives a bus through the intersection daily, agreed.

“You’ve got to get that eastbound traffic slowed down,” he said. “That would create a lot less hazard at that intersection.”

Residents offered other solutions, such as improving visibility by creating a curve in Highway 23 to join with Highway 83 farther south or creating a right-turn only off Highway 23, with then a U-turn for motorists wanting to go the other direction. Residents voiced concerns about west-turning trucks on Highway 83 obscuring other southbound vehicles from motorists coming from the west on Highway 23. They also asked for more lighting, truck acceleration lanes and slower traffic speeds at the intersection.

“I see this more as a stopgap,” Brett Henne, Max, said of the roundabouts. “I see us doing this and then in 20-30 years having to do an overpass anyway.”

Jacob Fannik, left, and Chuck Walen discuss handout information prior to the start of a public input meeting on the U.S. Highway 83 and N.D. Highway 23 intersection Tuesday in Max.

An interchange, or overpass, option is estimated to cost $50 million to $60 million. Traffic signals, which are another option, would cost $250,000 to $500,000.

Norval Semchenko, Max, questioned eliminating the current right of way for motorists on Highway 83 by installing roundabouts that make all motorists yield.

“What you’re doing is you are eliminating the right of way and making everybody make a judgment every time they go through that intersection. And I think that’s really going to just confuse the issue. If this project goes through, my guess is the number of fatalities within a year that’s completed is going to be no less than what they’ve had before,” he said.

NDDOT engineer Derek Pfeifer conceded there may be crashes, but they will be minor sideswipe collisions rather than T-bone crashes that can result in serious injury or death. However, residents raised concern about crashes in roundabouts clogging traffic and of increased demands on local emergency responders.

NDDOT engineer Jen Einrem outlined the design of the two roundabouts, which will include accommodations to handle the large trucks that need extra space to get through or special accommodations.

In the past three years, permits were issued to allow 16,000 oversize, overweight vehicles on the roadway. These permitted loads receive special accommodations all along their routes, and traffic may be stopped at the roundabout to get them through, Einrem said.

Meeting participants questioned why only the roundabout option was presented.

“It really does not feel like a public input meeting. It sounds like a public announcement,” Curt Olson said.

“We are presenting roundabouts tonight because we feel it’s the best solution to increase safety at the intersection,” Pfeifer said. “But we aren’t going to go through with anything until after we hear public input and comment.”

Pfeifer added the 90% federal funding for roundabouts isn’t driving the department’s decision.

“What’s driving it is the amount of accidents, crashes and fatalities that have occurred at that intersection. We are here to present an option that we feel, as a department, would be a good solution to eliminate those incapacitating and fatal crashes,” he said.

He also said some ideas generated by the public, including reducing speeds, are feasible and will be part of the department’s discussion in coming weeks.

The NDDOT is accepting comments through Dec. 21. A plan for the intersection could be decided by February, but Pfeifer noted if an alternative other than the roundabouts advances, the department will come back before the public.

In the meantime, lighting and traffic warning equipment installed since last summer will remain in place.