Burleigh County commissioners approved a proposed 2007 road projects priority list, though they removed a Department of Transportation request to fund a bike path from United Tribes Technical College to the University of Mary along University Drive.

County engineer Jon Mill provided the commission with the annual project priority list at Wednesday's meeting. A total of 23 projects were listed at an estimated total cost of $6,396,210 with a county share of $5,505,510.

With a budget of a little more than $10.5 million from the oil and gas tax combined with cash reserves, investments, outstanding project revenue and accounts receivable, about $3.7 million is available for capital improvement projects in 2007.

"Our financial picture at any point and time is difficult to determine. Money is always moving in and out and is a nasty animal to get a handle on," Mill said. "The bottom line shows $3.7 million available for discretionary capital improvement projects. This priority list isn't really hard and fast and there usually is some movement as the year unfolds and there are always new things to work in."

Topping the list was creation of a turn lane at the intersection of 71st Avenue and Centennial Road intersection. The county is funding the entire project placed at $70,000.

Next on the priority list is a project commissioners debated whether it is a county responsibility. With the development of the Northern Plains Commerce Centre, improvements to Yegen Road and closure of a section of Airway Avenue, it's been proposed the intersection at Yegen and Airway be reconstructed to handle traffic more efficiently.

According to Mill, it means softening the corner, which is a T-intersection allowing commuters to more easily transition between the two roads.

"It's the main route from Lincoln to Bismarck. The NPCC indicated it would do something, but it hasn't, and it appears the county is left with the responsibility to make improvements at the corner," Mill said.

Commissioners questioned whether the property was within city limits or the county. Mill said most of the area in that vicinity belongs to the city, but Bismarck has failed to step forward.

Commissioner Doug Schonert, who holds the roads portfolio, said some responsibility should be held by Bismarck because the NPCC is the city's project, which also decided to close Airway Avenue. He said it should be addressed further with the city though the county could participate.

"It's a dangerous situation and a high traffic intersection," Schonert noted.

The NDDOT has asked the county to participate in its proposed $540,000 bike path, which presently ends near Burleigh Avenue near UTTC and continue it to the University of Mary. Without Burleigh's willingness to provide $108,000 along with maintenance after it's finished, the trail may be a no go. One reason for the seemingly high price is the need for a bridge at Apple Creek.

"I'm not against walking trails," Commissioner Jerry Woodcox said. "We have many of them throughout the community and county. But I don't know if the usage by walkers and bikers justifies a half-million-dollar trail."

Commissioner Jim Peluso said he agreed to a point but feels the trail is an inviting project and will improve Swenson Park.

"I'd hate to scrap it and lose it. If it's not built now, it never will be," Peluso said.

It was decided that commissioner Mark Armstrong will contact the University of Mary to see if the school is interested in participating in the project. The commission placed it on the Feb. 3 meeting agenda as a separate item.

A project that has been on the priority list for a number of years, but put on the back-burner for lack of appropriate easements, is the one-mile stretch connecting County 10 with Interstate 94 near Menoken, 158th Street.

Mill said while most landowners along the road have granted easements to allow an estimated $200,000 in improvements, there have been two holdouts. Mill added that should the county have to pay for the easements, in fairness to the other landowners they should go back and pay them for the easements, which will further escalate costs.

The short stretch is highly used and is becoming a safety problem, according to Woodcox. He indicated the county could perhaps turn to eminent domain to claim the easements.

Mill agreed the needed property could be condemned, but it could be a messy process adding much more time before construction can take place. While the absent landowners have been sent letters, they have never responded.

"Regardless of what has happened, this is a project that has to be done," Schonert said. "We should give one more year to make contact with the people. We've tried to make contact every way possible with the exception of going up to their door and knocking, but we get no response. Maybe that's what we'll have to do, jump in a car and knock on their door. If we don't get to work soon it could be a serious safety problem."

The commission also discussed priority 16, which is the creation of an intersection on River Road connecting it with Bismarck's Ash Coulee Drive. Mill noted that items 16 through 23 were put on the list just to keep it on the commission's radar and they could be several years in the offing.

The Ash Coulee-River Road intersection is phase two of a River Road study. In 2006, the county completed phase one by rerouting the north intersection of River Road with Highway 1804. The half-mile project cost Burleigh $200,000.

Mill estimated the time schedule for the Ash Coulee-River Road intersection should be in the next three to five years. He suggested the county enter into discussions with Bismarck about possible assistance and the impact the traffic flow will have on Ash Coulee and north Washington Street.

The commission did make a commitment of an additional $100,000, to the already $202,000 proposed for paving of 149th Avenue between Highway 83 and 34th Street NW. Several residents living along the route made a strong case for the project and agreed to attempt setting up a special assessment district to help fund the estimated $540,000 project.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@;bismarcktribune.com.)