Fantastic Friday: Huge Stories Today -- The Bakken, North Dakota, USA

Another huge story for this Fantastic Friday in the Bakken:

The Transportation Department will complete this fall "Super 2" construction on 40 miles of U.S. Highway 85, between Watford City and Williston. The $47 million project includes additional turning lanes and passing lanes that will help ease road congestion and enhance safety for motorists. Plans are for Highway 85 to eventually become an undivided, 4-lane highway between Watford City and Williston.

This week, the city of Williston and Williams County commissioners have approved a route for a permanent northwest bypass to alleviate traffic in Williston. Transportation Department officials immediately began work to draft an environmental study and a project design steps toward securing right-of-way property.

The Transportation Department is also considering bypass routes for the cities of Dickinson, Alexander, New Town and Watford City.

The state has provided $2 million for environmental studies needed to advance work on bypass routes for Williston and Dickinson. The state also has budgeted $3 million for Williston's permanent bypass.

The article provides an update on other highway / road projects in North Dakota.