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.
This is just one of a few mancamps already located in the same area. This man camp is actually supposed to help house the construction workers who will be building the new Bakken Industrial park as well as this new Truck Stop. I agree that another mancamp will not impact traffic north of Williston as much as a truck stop, and not to mention all of the traffic that will be generated when this mega industrial park gets completed and filled. I'm thinking they might need a traffic light farther north where the truack stop will be located.
ReplyDeleteThe worse corner in the area will be where the bypass joins US 2&85 at the north end of the Million Dollar Way. My understanding is there is a proposal to put in another road, another bypass, that will arc over the northwest corner of Williston, farther out than the airport, eventually hooking up with where 2 and 85 separate west of Williston.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know where that truck stop will be built?
ReplyDeleteIf you're using Firefox browser, type in "truck stop" and search the site.
ReplyDeleteThe story is here:
http://milliondollarway.blogspot.com/2011/07/even-by-bakken-standards-this-is-huge.html