If You Care About Theodore Roosevelt National Park

If you care about Theodore Roosevelt National Park, this one's for you!!!

Proposed Four-Lane Divided Highway through the North Unit and Little Missouri River Valley

The ND Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration and their engineering consultant KLJ will be holding two Public Alternatives Workshops on July 25 and 26 to outline proposed Alternatives for expansion of HWY 85 to a four-lane divided highway south from the Watford City bypass to the I-94 interchange at Belfield and including through the Little Missouri River Valley and the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.


Belfield City Hall

Monday, July 25, 5-7:30 pm MT
Formal presentation at 5:30 pm MT
107 2nd AVE NE

Watford City Hall

Tuesday, July 26, 5-7 pm CT
Formal presentation at 5:30 pm CT
213 2nd ST NE


BCA wrote its first formal comment letter regarding the proposed project in 2009 in response to a KLJ Solicitation of Views, but it had been an economic development dream for years prior.  The northern portion of a Ports to Plains Alliance from Laredo, TX into Canada, the so-called Theodore Roosevelt Expressway concept got a mighty push with greatly expanding traffic at the onset of Bakken development.

BCA does not take a position on the proposal in its entirety, but DOES oppose expansion to a four-lane divided highway through the North Unit of our National Park and the Little Missouri State Scenic River Valley.  We are also recommending a series of engineered wildlife crossings at key movement/migration corridors throughout the proposed 62-mile length.  We will continue to advocate for statewide public meetings respectful of the significance of impacts to our National Park and that would provide for broader opportunities for public participation.  

If you are unable to attend the meeting, written comments may be submitted by August 26, 2016. 

Watch for the Public Alternatives Workshop presentation materials to be posted on the ND DOT webpage after the Belfield and Watford City meetings.  Send comments to:

Matt Linneman, Program Manager
Environmental and Transportation Services
ND DOT
608 E Boulevard AVE
Bismarck, ND  58505-0700

or

mlinneman@nd.gov

Be sure to include your contact information.


For further, previously-posted information check out the ND DOT webpage.

Learn more about the promotion of the Theodore Roosevelt Expressway.