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Sunday, October 7, 2012

Aerial Photos of the New Bypass North of Williston

Updates

Later, 11:38 pm: see comments below. The company working on designing this project is SRF, headquartered out of Minneapolis, MN, with regional offices in Fargo and Bismarck. Click here for link to their website. It appears it is easy to contact their principals by e-mail if interested in additional information. A huge "thank you" for the reader who took the time to send in this information.

Original Post
Readers can help us out on this one.

A reader was kind enough to send some incredible aerial photos of what I think is the "new" bypass road north of Williston as it comes to/crosses "2 & 85" about five miles north of Williston.

It's definitely not the 13-mile corner north of Williston (unless they completely eliminated the arc).

I don't think it's the corner at 60 Avenue NW because 60th Avenue NW is completely straight, and in the bottom-most photo one can see the county highway has a distinctive curve about a mile in the distance. It has to be 57th Street Northwest (my hunch is County Highway 6 is now 57th Street Northwest).

But about five miles north of Williston is County Highway 6, which has that distinctive curve about a mile east of "2 & 85."

So, I think this "brand new" intersection is about five miles north of Williston, where County Highway 6 intersects with "2 & 85." If so, I think the well at the intersection is:
  • 22414, conf, Zenergy, Tufto 13-24H, Cow Creek,
I will be glad to let readers correct me.

Having said all that: look at the amount of asphalt used at the intersections: I can only imagine the engineering that was done to make this intersection stand up to all the truck traffic it's going to see.

Then, look at all the truck traffic.

And the crew camps.

Those who grew up in Williston, but who have long since left, will hardly recognize these amazing changes.

A huge thank you to the reader for sending these photos to be shared.


See comment below: the middle photo captures the location and early work on Love's Truck Stop.


If I am correct that this is County Highway 6 crossing "2 & 85" north of Williston: the four-lane divided highway is US Highway 2 and 85 running north - south from Williston, north of Williston about five miles on the way to Minot. The county highway is running west - east. In the bottom-most photo one is looking east off into the direction and the distinctive curve to the south about a mile in the distance.

One can see a new oil well / pad off to the right, in the southeast corner of the intersection.

The "13-mile corner" is about another seven or eight miles to the north (to the left) of the bottom-most photo.

Truckers must really appreciate this new bypass.

6 comments:

  1. I think this is a temporary bypass until they acquire the rights of way for the real bypass. I drove it a few weeks ago and it hardly qualifies as a bypass. It winds and twists around and finally comes out on the east-west highway west of 1804 (the highway to Trenton). We saw maybe 2 trucks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. I just wasn't sure if I was looking at County Highway 6 where it intersects 2 & 85.

      But you are correct; it's a miserable route as it twists and turns leading up to the intersection. It will take awhile for truckers to start using it, and, of course, it depends on the drilling in the area.

      The bigger question: will the intersection need traffic lights? It could be a real pain for truckers to cross the highway.

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  2. Yes it will definately need a light. The middle photo is a great shot of the new Loves truck stop. I drive this route daily. It's great to have and I see a lot of trucks using it. One bad corner about a mile from hwy 2 on the west end of "temp. bypass" so be aware.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you: I had forgotten all about the Love's Truck Stop -- wow, what a location. It's going to be a very, very busy intersection -- especially if the food is good.

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  3. This is the "Springbrook" turnoff intersection. The intersection is temporary. The "permanent" bypass will intersect at this intersection, but if you look at the NDDOT plans, the intersection will eventually become an interchange once the "permanent" bypass is built. The "permanent" bypass will still intersect at this intersection, just with an interchange. I believe they hope to start construction in 2014.
    If you scroll on the site below, you will find the plans from the engineering firm working on it.
    http://www.srfconsulting.com/services/LeadingTheWay/NorthDakota/Index.aspx

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    Replies
    1. An interchange makes a lot of sense. But I am truly amazed at how much infrastructure is being put in. This is not trivial -- an interchange at this "little" intersection. I am impressed.

      I am also impressed with the SRF company and website; it is headquartered in Minneapolis, with regional offices in Fargo and Bismarck. The Bismarck office seems to be relatively new; if so, probably a direct result of the the Bakken.

      It appears very easy to contact the "principals" at SRF if anyone is interested in pursuing more about plans for this intersection, and perhaps other highway projects in western North Dakota.

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