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Construction activity on the Puppy Dog Coulee storm sewer project will bring new traffic impacts beginning next week as work continues in southwest Minot, according to the City of Minot.

Additional construction activity is scheduled to begin Tuesday, May 26, as part of Phase 7A and will result in a partial closure on 24th Avenue Southwest. The closure will impact the Highlands Plaza parking lot and 24th Avenue Southwest between 15th Street Southwest and Mall Loop Road. Businesses in Highlands Plaza will remain accessible to pedestrians. Traffic will be detoured to 22nd Avenue Southwest.

A temporary traffic shift on 16th Street Southwest is also tentatively scheduled for midweek as crews begin work in Phase 9, the city reported. Drivers should expect changing traffic patterns during this transition as vehicle traffic is routed to a temporary bypass configuration. No left turns will be allowed from 24th Avenue Southwest onto 16th Street during this phase. Motorists are encouraged to use caution and be mindful of speed limits while traveling through the work zone.

The Puppy Dog Coulee project is a nearly $20 million storm sewer improvement effort that has been in planning since at least 2015. Phases 1-6 were substantially completed in 2025. Remaining work for the 2026 construction season includes:

– underground utility work (storm sewer, sanitary sewer, and water mains) and reconstruction of a portion of 24th Avenue Southwest between the Arco gas station and the intersection just northwest of Target.

– installation of concrete box culverts under the west side of 16th Street Southwest and reconstruction of the affected roadway. During this phase, traffic will be head-to-head using the two northbound lanes of 16th Street.

– Final paving, striping, landscaping and concrete work will also be completed on previously completed 2025 phases in the Highlands Plaza Strip Mall parking lot and near Dakota West Plaza, Hotel Revel and Easter Seals

The project has a substantial completion date of Aug. 18, with final completion scheduled for Oct. 20. Wagner Construction is the general contractor, with a total low bid of $19.68 million, which was 11% below estimates.

The Puppy Dog Coulee drainage basin covers about 9,500 acres southwest of Minot. The system conveys storm water from west of the city, under 16th Street Southwest, through the commercial area near the mall, and to the U.S. Highway 2 & 52 ditch.