Engineers hone in on US 52 four-lane option
Trending
Engineers studying the four-laning of U.S. 52 between Minot and Voltaire are recommending a divided highway design as the preferred alternative.
However, the public is getting opportunities to weigh in before a final plan is selected. A couple of those opportunities came this week.
The North Dakota Department of Transportation and Ulteig Engineering held public meetings in Minot on Monday, July 27, and in Velva on Tuesday, July 28.
A series of public meetings already have been part of the process of developing four-laning alternatives. The preliminary engineering now is complete and the environmental document is almost finalized.
Mike Huffington, consultant project manager with Ulteig, said the preferred alternative would have a depressed median between the opposing lanes of traffic and have a 70 mph speed limit. Velva and possibly other space-constrained areas, particularly around Voltaire, could be exceptions requiring a flush, paved median. At Velva, the plan calls for a shared-use path and beacons for a pedestrian crossing across U.S. 52.
A project this summer will add acceleration and deceleration lanes at a railroad crossing near Voltaire, which could be incorporated into a flush-median design more easily than converted to a depressed-median design in the future, according to engineers.
The divided highway comes at higher cost and greater right of way requirements, but it increases safety by reducing the risk of head-on collisions, Huffington said. Additionally, choosing that option gives greater flexibility for adjustments further along in the process, he said. It also has been the option favored by 42% of the responding public, compared to 21% who preferred a flush median and 37% with no preference.
The flush median alternative would have a smaller footprint, lower cost and make more use of the existing passing lanes. The speed limit would be 65 mph.
The right of way needed within the entire corridor varies from 94 to 182 acres, with the larger amount associated with a depressed median.
Huffington stressed the project will just be a concept until funding is identified. The cost range is estimated at $187.5 million to $231.7 million.
Chad Frisinger with the N.D. Department of Transportation, Bismarck, noted the 2023 Legislature approved the funding to get this far into the process.
"That's all the funding that they've provided, and right now, this will wrap up in September, and we will be paused," he said. Whether more funds will be forthcoming will be determined in the 2027 legislative session.
"The logical step would be to purchase the right of way and finish the design, move the utilities. Those three things are going to be a substantial amount of money," Frisinger said. Any funding for actual construction could then follow in future sessions if legislators choose to do so.
Huffington said four-laning U.S. 52 was identified as a need because of perceived safety issues and future demand. The crash rate on the stretch of highway from just east of Minot to just east of Voltaire falls within the normal range.
"But we do know that doesn't tell the full story of this corridor," Huffington said. "Anybody that's driven this corridor understands there's a lot of trucks along here. Between Velva and Voltaire, nearly one out of every three vehicles is a large truck."
He added traffic is anticipated to grow along U.S. 52 by 35-45% by 2047.
"We're trying to have a highway facility that meets the needs of local and regional commuters, industry, agriculture and the military," he said.
Anyone wishing to comment can submit statements by Aug. 12 to Ulteig Operations, LLC, Attn: Mike Huffington, 3350 38th Ave. S., Fargo, ND 58104 or Mike.Huffington@Ulteig.com, with "Public Hearing PCN 24012" in the letter or email subject heading.
Information also is available on the N.D. Department of Transportation website.