While four-laning Highway 85 between Williston and Watford City is underway, four-laning between Watford City and Belfield has not even entered the planning stage and may be stalled do to opposition from the Badlands Conservation Alliance and Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
According to the Dickinson Press, DOT spokesperson Jamie Olson said that a Watford City-to-Belfield widening of Highway 85 is not a part of the department’s 2012-15 State Transportation Improvement Program plan, though the DOT asked for public comment on the possible addition in 2012.
In June of 2012, Badlands Conservation Alliance executive director Jan Swenson and Theodore Roosevelt National Park Superintendent Valerie Naylor sent letters to the DOT expressing concern about possible harmful effects from any potential project to TRNP’s North Unit. (See attached map and letters of opposition)
The Theodore Roosevelt Expressway Association has been joined by area commissions and councils in support of widening Highway 85 to increase safety. You can add your voice to support widening Highway 85 by signing the resolution below or downloading the attached resolution and submitting the completed form.
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE NORTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO PROCEED WITH PLANS TO FOUR-LANE U.S. HIGHWAY 85 BETWEEN WATFORD CITY AND BELFIELD, ND.
WHEREAS, the accident and fatality rate on U.S. Highway 85 between Watford City and Belfield is significantly increasing; and
WHEREAS, the North Dakota Legislature has budgeted $1.5 billion in this biennium for transportation improvements in Western North Dakota; and
WHEREAS, the North Dakota Legislature has allocated $590 million oil in and gas revenue as the source of funding for these transportation improvements; and
WHEREAS, the North Dakota Department of Transportation has indicated that safely moving people and goods is its major priority; and
WHEREAS, North Dakota experiences an annual construction inflation of 12-20 percent annually; and
WHEREAS, we support the North Dakota Department of Transportation in their current construction improvements to U.S. Highway 85 from Watford City to Williston, including bypass routes; and
WHEREAS, an Environmental assessment will determine impacts and mitigation of the highway expansion through Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT EXPRESSWAY THAT:
1. Safety of the traveling public is of paramount importance and currently U.S. Highway 85 conditions are resulting in significant accidents and fatalities.
2. The current status of U.S. Highway 85 from Watford City to Belfield is impeding the very industry from which the revenue budgeted by the North Dakota Legislature is being collected for infrastructure improvements statewide.
3. The current status of U.S. Highway 85 from Watford City to Belfield is also limiting the interest of the labor force needed to serve the energy industry in western North Dakota.
4. The current status of U.S. Highway 85 from Watford City to Belfield is also creating a dangerous situation for visitors to western North Dakota, especially those visiting Theodore Roosevelt National Park and other public available Federal lands.
5. Delaying the planning and construction of this project will result in additional unnecessary cost to the taxpayers in North Dakota.
6. The proposed improvements would affect only existing roadway within the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
7. I/We join with others to urge the North Dakota Department of Transportation to proceed with plans to expand the existing U.S. Highway 85 from Watford City to Belfield to a four lane highway including the portion traversing the Theodore Roosevelt National Park and other Federal Lands.
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