The Williams County Commission approved a man camp north of Williston on Wednesday morning despite an opposite recommendation from the county’s Planning and Zoning Commission.The commissioners mentioned that traffic on US Highway 2 & 85 "had reached a critical point." My observation was quite different. (They should see San Antonio, Texas, traffic on a similar road for that city.) Sure, it's busy, but not that busy, and they probably need to put in traffic lights out near the KOA campgrounds, but it's a four-lane divided highway, and very, very manageable.
Planning and Zoning Administrator Jill Edson outlined the request. Edson said the camp would consist of 216 beds. It would be split up between six 36-bed dormitory-style units.
The camp would be located north of Williston on the acreage where the Target Logistics North Lodge sits. "All beds would be bought up already," Edson said.
If they are worried about this new man-camp, I shudder to think about the effect that new HUGE / MAJOR truck stop that is being put in just a few more miles to the north. The man-camp is serviced by buses to transport workers from site-to-site, and those workers are not on the road between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. But the traffic generated by the new truck stop north of Williston will be a real game changer.
If traffic increases on US Highway 2 & 85 north of Williston, it won't be because of the new 216-bed man camp.
