May 21, 2008 - 04:06:11 CDT
The Metropolitan Planning Organization's policy board took a look at its crystal ball to get an idea of what road projects can be expected for Bismarck and Mandan in the years to come.At Tuesday's MPO meeting, Bismarck city engineer Mel Bullinger and Mandan's Sarah Baehurst provided a short-term outlook in outlining Transportation Improvement Program projects through 2012.
Bullinger first explained that Bismarck plans on requesting for each of the years from 2009 to 2012 $320,000 for traffic signals. That will pay for 1 to 1.5 signals each year. The city also asks $75,000 each year for unspecified safety projects.
In 2009, Bismarck plans an overlay of the Bismarck Expressway bridge over the Missouri River. It also will request the final reimbursement payment of $500,000 for work that has been completed at the Northern Plains Commerce Centre.
In 2010, a thin lift overlay of Highway 83 from Calgary to 57th Avenue is planned, along with an overlay of Expressway from the bridge to Washington Street.
Still under discussion, but on the calendar for 2011, is a rehabilitation project of Expressway from 12th Street to the railroad structure just east of Wal-Mart. The city also plans on completion of the Century Avenue project from Hamilton east to Centennial and also will improve Centennial from Trenton to Jericho.
In 2012, through the urban roads program, plans are for widening of Divide from Burnt Boat Drive to Bismarck Expressway. This will include connecting Divide to Expressway though the section line, if the city can purchase the right of way.
Over in Mandan, the Mandan Avenue project will be finished with some landscaping, according to Baehurst of the Mandan engineering department.
In 2010, plans are to extend Division Street west from Mandan Avenue
There are no projects in 2011, and in 2012 the city will consider paving of 19th Street from Highway 1806 to Highway 6. But Baehurst indicated the city will possibly drop the project.
Jason Carbee, with the engineering firm of URS, provided an update on the Long Range Transportation Plan, which considers possible projects until 2035.
URSis in the process of rounding up a broad range of stakeholders to form a community committee. The group will act as a sounding board for the study. URS is looking for people representing traditional stakeholders along with those that represent bike riders and mass transit users. They also want people representing the various geographic interests of the communities.
URS is estimating funding levels for projects, according to Carbee. It's estimated Bismarck-Mandan-Lincoln spends about $6.67 million annually on its transportation system. In looking at the future, URS is estimating a 4 percent annual growth in costs and a 2 percent growth in revenues (funding from the federal government) which could lead to a $46 million gap by 2035.
Carbee said that the process of developing the Long Range Transportation Plan is in its early stages.
Now that the routes for the Bismarck-Mandan beltway have been decided on, Ulteig Engineers have been out inspecting the chosen routes, Ulteig's Steve Windish said. The routes east of the Missouri are much further along in most cases than those on the west side.
"We're trying to find things that will be a design issue in construction of the beltway, including rivers, creeks, wetlands, driveways, houses, and utilities," Windish said. "In looking at the grades, it's not bad in Burleigh, but Morton has some big steep hills and we have to find a constructable route."
Windish added that the plans for the beltway are not things being constructed in the near future, but are likely 15 years out or further. The plan will allow the cities and counties to preserve the areas needed for the transportation routes.
In a final presentation, MPO director Steve Saunders said that the Bismarck Municipal Airport master plan, which is still being developed, calls for the eventual closing of most of Airway Avenue south of the airport. From the National Guard helicopter operation to Lincoln Road will be closed. From the National Guard facility, Airway will be rerouted south to 48th Avenue, which doesn't exist yet.
Saunders said that the master plan is placing this effort about 15 years in the future, with some expectations that the 48th Avenue leg of the beltway will be built.
There was no representation of Lincoln at the airport master plan meeting and Saunders said that there might be some heartburn on behalf of Lincoln residents who use Airway to reach University Drive. The public meeting on the airport master plan was held May 14.
(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@bismarcktribune.com.)
zzz wrote on May 21, 2008 7:48 PM:
Question On Beltway Route wrote on May 21, 2008 12:12 PM:
Mandanite wrote on May 21, 2008 9:44 AM:
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