More Progress on 55th Street Bypass - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

More Progress on 55th Street Bypass

Construction workers are making more progress on the 55th Street Bypass project this week.

Construction crew members continue paving a two-and-a-half mile stretch of 55th street.
The crew plans to lay down two separate two-and-a-half inch thick lifts of asphalt to form the paved road.
Vice President of Ackerman-Estvold Engineering, Jeff McElwain says the finished project should make it easier to navigate through the Magic City.

(Jeff McElwain, Ackerman-Estvold Engineering) "It's going to be very comparable to the west bypass as far as distance and stuff like that.  Both will connect at the signals at 46th avenue in Minot, everyone's familiar with that.

A new bridge will connect to the bypass.
Together the bridge and bypass total up to 17 million dollars and 14 million is provided by a Tiger Grant through stimulus funds.
While the bridge will not be ready for use this year, the bypass should be up and running by late September.
McElwain says the new bypass should ease up some on truck traffic in the City of Minot and help preserve Broadway.

(Jeff McElwain, Ackerman-Estvold Engineering) "Safety is the biggest concern, keep the trucks off, and the wear and tear on the city streets and that type of issues."

The northern portion of the 55th street Northeast Bypass will remain closed to traffic during the paving.  
Drivers are asked to pay close attention to signs and constructing zones.