Via press release:
Today marks the day of the eagerly awaited opening of east Divide Avenue. Mayor Mike Seminary, City and State government officials including Lt. Governor Drew Wrigley, Grant Levi, Director, ND DOT, City Commissioners Nancy Guy and Josh Askvig, consultants, contractors and the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the completion of the project and road opening with a ribbon cutting event held at the intersection of east Divide Avenue and Commerce Drive.
The completion of the project provides a full capacity urban arterial section of road that connects with Bismarck Expressway at a signalized intersection. This eliminates the circuitous route between east Divide Ave. and Bismarck Expressway and moves the intersection, with Bismarck Expressway further away from the I-94 ramps, thus reducing congestion and adding to operational safety. The project is lit with LED lighting to provide superior visibility with lower operational costs. The project included a water main, and improvements to the Hay Creek drainage area via the placement of a box culvert under east Divide Avenue, minimizing the need for closure of east Divide Avenue during spring runoff and rainfall events. Another positive feature of the project is the continuation of the shared use path – pedestrian/bike trail along the south side of the new roadway connecting it to the existing Bismarck Expressway trail.
The total cost of the project is approximately $9 million including road construction costs, engineering fees, and right-of-way. The funding of roadway construction costs consisted of 80% federal funds and 20% local funds.
The design and construction engineering consultant for the project was Kadrmas, Lee and Jackson and the prime contractor, Northern Improvement Company. Sub-contractors included: ASTEC, Bullinger Tree Service, Dakota Fence, Knife River, K.W. Boring, Northern Geotextiles, S&B Landscaping, Strata Corporation, Traffic Safety Services, Weisz & Sons, and Zimmerman Contracting.
For more information visit www.bismarcknd.gov.
