Memorial Highway Reconstruction

Newsletter #14 Schedule/Phasing Updates

Project Schedule Updates. The Memorial Highway Reconstruction project has undergone some phasing and drainage revisions following extensive coordination between the City of Mandan and the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT). A drainage outfall for the eastern portion of the Memorial Highway corridor has recently been selected to be carried forward into environmental documentation and design in 2024. Construction on the roadway is anticipated to occur mainly in 2025 and 2026. An overview of the project schedule is can be seen here, along with a map to show areas included in each phase of construction. Limits of each phase may vary depending on final design and construction plans. 

Phase 1&2 Construction (2025). 

• Construct east storm sewer system
• Construct east half of Memorial Highway from approximately 32^nd Ave SE to approximately 46^th Ave SE
• Construction includes:
• Replacement and installation of underground utilities
• Construction of curb and gutter roadway section with median at major intersections
• Addition of bicycle and pedestrian facilities
• Updated roadway lighting and traffic signals
• Improved roadway drainage with installation of a storm sewer system
• Construct sanitary lift stations near 32^nd Ave SE and 40^th Ave SE intersections.

Phase 3 construction (2026)

• Construct west storm sewer system
• Construct west half of Memorial Highway from approximately E Main St to approximately 32^nd Ave SE
• Construction includes:
• Replacement and installation of underground utilities 
• Construction of curb and gutter roadway section with median at major intersections
• Addition of bicycle and pedestrian facilities
• Updated roadway lighting and traffic signals
• Improved roadway drainage with installation of a storm sewer system
• Construct sanitary lift station near Third Street SE intersection

 

May 1, 2023 Update
Memorial Highway reconstruction continues to be top-of-mind for City staff and leaders. The North Dakota Department of Transportation, City of Mandan and consultant firm HDR Engineering, Inc. continue working on stormwater drainage challenges.

 

“With very large and complex projects such as this, the planning challenges tend to warrant extensive design and review in order to be confident in any change to the plan,” says City Engineer Justin Froseth.

 

The start of construction has been pushed back to address these challenges. Work will be done in phases and the corridor will remain open to two-way traffic throughout construction with access maintained for businesses.

 

 

Nov. 29, 2022 Update
The Memorial Highway reconstruction project is in the final design phase with a shift in the project schedule. An off-highway improvement, namely construction of storm sewer piping, was anticipated to occur in 2022. The City of Mandan, North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) and consultant firm HDR Engineering, Inc. are working on stormwater drainage challenges. The start of construction has been pushed back to address these challenges.

Funding. City staff and leaders are working on different funding sources and scenarios for the project. Funding sources being considered include citywide property taxes, American Rescue Plan Act funds, the utility fund for underground work, and special assessments to commercial and residential property owners in the surrounding area. The City is also seeking a State Water Commission grant for the project to increase capacity of the water lines.

“We’re looking at the use of funds strategically, while keeping other important, upcoming projects in mind,” says City Administrator Jim Neubauer. City staff and NDDOT are discussing and identifying ways to make this project more affordable, including how to minimize the impact of inflation in construction costs. The local share for above-ground costs and storm sewer is 10%. Mandan is responsible for the majority of the remaining underground work to improve City-owned infrastructure.

Special assessments. A special assessment district will need to be set up prior to issuing the construction plan package for bid. The City would then mail letters to commercial and residential property owners. The purpose of the letter is to explain project components and estimated costs with a provision for a protest period.

Phases. Original plans were to complete the project in phases over the course of three consecutive construction seasons. Depending on the solution to the stormwater drainage piece of the project, proposed construction phases may be adjusted. The corridor is to remain open to two-way traffic throughout construction with access maintained for businesses.

Project scope. Reconstruction of Memorial Highway between Main Street and 46th Ave SE will address roadway deficiencies, reduce conflict points and improve multi-modal transportation along the corridor. Key components include the addition of sidewalks and a multi-use path; improved traffic flow, intersection improvements and drainage; and addressing pavement at the end of its useful life. Montana Dakota Utilities is also involved in discussions about possibly burying overhead power lines.

Along the east end of the corridor, private utility companies have been relocating and adjusting existing utilities to accommodate future corridor improvements.

 

Newsletter #13 Character of the Corridor

What will the Memorial Highway Improvements look like? Memorial Highway is an important corridor in Mandan. It is home to numerous businesses and carries visitors, residents and commuters to, from and through Mandan. The improved Memorial Highway will add value to our community and compliment the current character of the area. Minor aesthetic improvements along the corridor are being evaluated.

Improvements will include multiple lane configurations (click here to view). Other Proposed Features:

• New roadway pavement
• Curb and gutter section with improved drainage
• Bike and pedestrian facilities
• Modern street lights and traffic signals

What about Power Lines? The power lines are a familiar feature on Memorial Highway. The current plan is for the power lines to remain in place. These are a private facility maintained by MDU. Converting overhead power lines into underground utilities is no small feat and would include coordination with adjacent properties to convert each service. At this time, it is anticipated that the power lines will remain overhead. 

 

Newsletter #12 - Schedule/Phasing Update
Memorial Highway improvements are planned to begin next spring with Phase 1 activities. Phases 2 and 3 are tentative scheduled to take place in 2023 and 2024 respectively.

What will happen during the phases?
Phase 1 (2022):

• Storm sewer installation
• Relocation of Third St SE/Memorial Highway lift station from the east side of Third St SE to the west side of the street
• Disruption to traffic along Memorial Highway is expected to be minimal

Phase 2 (2023):

• Construct east half of Memorial Highway, project limits to be determined.

Phase 3 (2024):

• Construct west half of Memorial Highway, project limits to be determined.

Phases 2 & 3 construction to include:

• Replacement and installation of underground utilities
• Construction of curb and gutter roadway section with median at major intersections
• Addition of bike and pedestrian facilities
• Updated roadway lighting & traffic signals
• Improved roadway drainage with installation of a storm sewer system

 

Newsletter #11 - Traffic Signal Installation

Span wire signals will be installed at the intersection of Memorial Highway and Third St. SE/Bisman Ave. This 4-way traffic signal will control the movement of traffic through the intersection. The span wire traffic signals will be installed in fall 2021. The image above shows a span wire traffic signal that currently exists at the intersection of Memorial Highway and 40^th Ave. In 2023/2024, all traffic signals on Memorial Highway are planned to be replaced.

What will we see next? Phase I construction is tentatively planned for 2022. Phase I improvements to Memorial Highway taking place include storm sewer installation and the relocation of Third St. SE/ Memorial Highway lift station to the west side of Third St. SE. Disruption to traffic in 2022 is expected to be minimal.

 

Newsletter #10 - Drainage Improvements
Understanding Storm Sewers. One of the key project goals is to address drainage along Memorial Highway. Currently, ditches run on either side of the highway to collect runoff from rain in the summer and snow melt in the winter. At times where larger volumes of rain or quickly melting snow are present, area businesses have experienced stormwater flowing into or standing on their property as seen in the picture in the attached.

When reconstructing the highway, the new design will include curb inlets on either side of the road which will collect stormwater and channel it below the road to the Heart River or the Missouri River via Lakewood Bay. While both will run beneath the highway, this storm sewer is an independent system from the sanitary sewer main which leads to the wastewater treatment plant. 

Urban drainage system. Memorial Highway is constructed on very flat terrain. In order to allow for gravity to move the storm water through the storm sewer pipe, it will be necessary for the depth of the pipe to reach as much as 13 feet underground in some areas. That’s roughly the height of an elephant!

What will we see next? Now that the environmental document is complete, you may notice survey crews out along the corridor collecting additional information for final design activities. We anticipate final design for phase 1 construction to be completed late this summer with project bidding scheduled for the fall of this year.

Construction is tentatively planned for 2022.

 

Newsletter #9 - Environmental Document Complete & What to be looking for next

Environmental Document Complete! The environmental document is a federally required evaluation of potential environmental impacts of a construction project. While it takes an extensive look at a number of factors, three of the items considered include wetlands, cultural, and trees.

• Wetlands: It is anticipated that the project would result in permanent and temporary impacts to wetlands and other waters. It is anticipated that unavoidable impacts would be mitigated at a ND Department of Transportation wetland bank. Wetland mitigation will be finalized during final design.
• Cultural: Studies show that no historic properties would be affected with this project. ND State Historic Preservation Office has recommended monitoring for any ground disturbance activities and a discovery plan be in place.
• Trees: Project activities will impact some areas adjacent to the roadway resulting in tree removal. Tree replacement will be done on a 1:1 ratio, with placement and species yet to be determined.

What will we see next? Now that the environmental document is complete, you may notice survey crews out along the corridor collecting additional information for final design activities. We anticipate final design for phase 1 construction to be completed late this summer with project bidding scheduled for the fall of this year. Construction is tentatively planned for 2022.

 

Newsletter #8 - What's Happening: Geotechnical Drilling
Things are happening on the Corridor! Over the coming weeks, you will be seeing North Dakota Department of Transportation staff and equipment out along the corridor doing what is called “geotechnical drilling.” Attached to the truck you will see what appears to be a large auger which will be drilling down approximately 20 feet into the soil. Subsurface conditions and a sample of the soil will be evaluated to determine any additional design needs to establish a solid foundation for the roadway, drainage and lift station structures.

Geotechnical drilling for Memorial Highway:

• Hole width: 8-inch diameter
• Up to 50 feet deep
• Approximately 30 drilling samples

In addition, soil sampling data will be used while creating the linear soil survey report and design recommendations to prepare for construction, including:

• Subsurface soil conditions
• Compaction
• Needed foundation support
• Groundwater conditions
• Backfill materials
• Earthwork
• Utility support

What will we see? So what can you expect to see on Memorial Highway this month? There will be drilling rigs at various locations on and off the roadway with 2-3 operators. These drilling rigs will look similar to the ones pictured in the attached. If your property will be impacted, you will be contacted in advance of drilling. Please provide adequate space for these professionals to complete their work and obey all temporary traffic diversions.

Newsletter #7 - Let's learn about the current roadway conditions. 

Assessing Current Roadway conditions. The current roadway was constructed in 1979. An asphalt roadway section typically has a 20-year design life consisting of hot bituminous material (asphalt) placed on an aggregate base.

A chip seal treatment was applied in 1985 and 1996. Chip seal is a surface treatment process where a thin layer of asphalt is applied with a layer of fine aggregate (sand, gravel crushed stone) to renew the surface of the road.

In 2009, a two-inch asphalt overlay was applied to the deteriorating surface. Rather than tearing up an old asphalt surface entirely, the asphalt overlay project used the existing layers as a base for the new asphalt pavement.

The roadway was microsurfaced in 2013. Microsurfacing is a process that is applied in order to help preserve and protect the underlying pavement structure and provide a new driving surface. Roads chosen for microsurfacing application generally have low to moderate distress and narrow crack width.

How long does pavement last? The “life” of asphalt pavement is typically 15-20 years with concrete surfacing lasting as long as 30 years. The lifespan of the pavement on Memorial Highway has been extended over the years due to the overlays and microsurfacing, however, it is nearing the end of its useful life.

Why not just overlay again? Preventative maintenance techniques such as overlays lose their effectiveness in preserving the pavement after a certain point. In addition, overlays do not address the additional concerns on this corridor including safety enhancements or drainage concerns. The project team is evaluating concrete for the roadway surface based on longer lifespan and reduced maintenance costs. More information on surfacing materials will be shared as the project progresses.

Here's what’s next:

• Summer 2020: Entire Corridor (all phases) Environmental Document
• Spring 2021: ROW Acquisition/easements
• Summer 2021 Phase 1 Plans Complete
• Fall 2021: Phase 1 Project Bid
• 2022+: Phase 1 construction
• 2022+: One to two more consecutive construction phases anticipated

The North Dakota Department of Transportation has created a website for the project. Visit Mandan Memorial Highway Improvements | NDDOT for more information. To submit comments, email input@memorialhighwayproject.com. Periodic updates will also be posted to the cityofmandan.com website.   

 

Newsletter #6 - Stormwater and Drainage Basics
Where does the water go? Currently the roadway is designed as a ‘rural section’ which means water drains off the roadway into the ditch. Sometimes, during high flow events or spring melt, this water causes ponding in the ditches and adjacent properties. Currently, runoff from smaller rainfall events doesn’t freely drain out of the system and tends to collect in the roadside ditches and other low areas along the corridor where it evaporates and infiltrates into the ground.

What are the requirements the final design needs to meet? Both the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) and the City of Mandan design standards require street stormwater collection systems to collect and convey the 10-year 24-hour rainfall event. The City of Mandan also requires that the 100-year 24-hour runoff event be collected and conveyed in a manner that does not inundate surrounding property. Establishing curb and gutter on the edge of the roadway will help capture these flows and guide them on the roadway and into the storm sewer system.

A 10-year event has a 10% chance of occurring or exceeded in any given year.
A 100-year event has a 1% chance of occurring or exceeded in any given year.

How will proposed improvements help? The goal of the design is to capture the water that falls on the roadway into a storm sewer system that will be built under the roadway. The proposed storm water system will collect water from the road corridor at inlets located along the curb and gutter and from area drains near the outside edge of the road to reduce ponding; then gravity drain to pump stations or to existing drainage channels.

What might the roadway with curb and gutter look like? To help illustrate what these improvements might look like, we have developed an interactive rendering of a portion of the highway which allows users to get a 360 degree view of what these improvements will look like. Click here to explore the rendering.

Newsletter #5 - Access Point Management Along the Corridor

Enhanced Safety Thorough Collaboration. One of the challenges faced on Memorial Highway is the large number of access points (driveways) along this stretch of road. Within the 2.4 mile stretch, there are 112 access points. The potential for vehicles entering and exiting the highway and the changes in speed that come from slowing to exit and accelerating after entry can be a safety concern. The illustration in the newsletter PDF depicts some options for access consolidation that are currently being evaluated. While no final agreements have been reached, the overall goal is to decrease the number of access points by working collaboratively with business and land owners.

Safety Enhancement by the Numbers. Why should we consolidate access?

• Enhances safety by separating access points so that turning and crossing movements occur at fewer locations.
• Allows drivers passing through an area to predict where other drivers will turn and cross
• Provides space to add turn lanes

Transitioning from two neighboring driveways to one larger shared driveway reduces potential conflict points from 20 to just 9. With Memorial Highway’s 112 access points, the corridor has over 1,000 conflict points or crash potential locations.

In the coming months, HDR’s Right-of-Way (ROW) staff will continue to work with landowners along the corridor to discuss the potential of consolidating some access points. These discussions will continue into the summer months when any additional acquisitions of adjacent property to accommodate the project design will be secured. Once plans are complete and construction dates have been determined, ROW staff will once again be working with land and business owners to obtain temporary construction easements and plan for continued access during construction.

Learning the terms and how they will apply. Three terms that you are going to see as we discuss these changes in the coming months are: Right-of-Way, Acquisition, & Easement. Let’s start with some basic definitions.

• Right-of-Way: The result of real property interests which have been acquired to construct or complete construction of a transportation project corridor.
• Acquisition: The process in which real property interests are obtained. ROW professionals will work with landowners to secure any additional land that may be required for the project.
• Easement: In general, an easement is the right of one person to use all or part of the property of another person for some specific purpose. Easements can be permanent or temporary (i.e. limited to a stated period). The term may be used to describe either the right itself or the document conferring the right. During the course of a construction project, for a variety of reasons, it may be necessary for a contractor to have access onto private property beyond the right of way limits. In those situations, a temporary construction easement, agreed upon and signed by the landowner is obtained, allowing access onto the land described within the easement for the benefit of the project. Following construction, the easement area would be reclaimed and vacated. Source – Uniform Act of 1970 / 49 CFR

Newsletter #4 – Bike and Pedestrian Safety Enhancements

Without proper walkways along Memorial Highway, pedestrians are forced to walk on the shoulder of the road, often navigating business traffic and intersections.

The new design of Memorial Highway will include three key bike and pedestrian safety enhancements:

1. In certain areas, a six-foot sidewalk will provide a designated area for pedestrians to walk, protected from traffic flow.
2. Pedestrian refuges will be placed in the median to protect pedestrians at signalized intersection crossings.
3. A 10-foot wide shared-use path will separate both pedestrians and bicyclists from traffic.

How does Memorial Highway fit into the overall Bike & Pedestrian plan? Memorial Highway was identified as a planned connection route. The new connections for this bicycle and pedestrian plan were determined by several factors. These factors included public input for desired routes, roadway analysis, routes that would increase connections, routes that would improve equity, and routes proposed in the Long Range Transportation Plan.

Who pays for the construction and maintenance of the sidewalks and shared-use path? The sidewalks and shared-use path will be constructed within the scope of the Memorial Highway project. Maintenance and snow removal for the sidewalk will fall on the responsibility of individual businesses and property owners along the corridor. In the City of Mandan, Mandan Parks and Recreation typically maintains the shared-use paths and trail network.

Why does Bismarck Mandan have a Bike & Pedestrian Plan? In 2016, Bismarck-Mandan was awarded a Bronze Level “Bicycle Friendly Community” designated from the League of American Cyclists. Some of the weaknesses noted include:

• High rate of bicycle crashes
• Low percentage of commuters who bicycle
• Limited network of on-road facilities

In 2017, the Bismarck-Mandan Bicycle + Pedestrian Plan sought to engage public input, using that feedback to create a bicycle and pedestrian network and implementation plan. The five goals established by the plan are:

1. Network Use – Increase the number of bicycling and walking trips made by people in Bismarck and Mandan.
2. Connectivity – Develop a connected network of bicycling and walking routes throughout both communities in partnership with local, regional and state partners. Connect bicycling and walking routes to community destinations and other transportation systems including transit.
3. Safety & Comfort – Build and maintain safe and comfortable bicycling and walking facilities for people of all ages and abilities. Support driving, walking and bicycling behaviors that increase the safety of people who walk and bicycle.
4. Maintenance – Protect the public’s investment in the bicycling and walking system over the long-term and ensure system accessibility all year round.
5. Planning – As new commercial and residential projects are planned, integrate bicycle and pedestrian facilities with project designs during the development review process.

Newsletter #3 The Plan to Enhance Safety, a Look at Improvements to Memorial Highway

What have we learned about Memorial Highway? Memorial Highway is a busy stretch of road, with an 85^th percentile speed of 47 mph. It can be challenging for drivers to adjust when slower moving vehicles are entering the roadway at one of 112 access points. From 2016 through 2018, 164 crashes have occurred with 45 (28%) of them taking place at areas outside of controlled intersections.

What are we doing to improve those conditions? Some of the things that we are doing to improve traffic operations include:

• Traffic Signals – The addition of a traffic signal at 3rd which will provide more opportunity for protected left turns, click here to experience the interactive renderings of Memorial at 3rd Street.
• Consolidating access points – Entrances/exits to businesses are being evaluated and consolidated where possible. How does consolidating access points impact business? Learn more about Intersection Safety on the Federal Highway Administration website Corridor Access Management page.
• Median – Raised medians will more efficiently channel traffic and allow for more properly aligned turn lanes which result in improved sight lines. The Federal Highway Administration has provided more information on the importance of medians in the publication Safety Benefits of Raised Medians and Pedestrian Refuge Areas.
• Bike & Pedestrian Protection – The 2017 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan identified Memorial Highway as a planned bicycle and pedestrian connection route. Traffic signals will provide protected movements for bicycles and pedestrians. To read more about this see page 23 of the Bismarck-Mandan Bicycle + Pedestrian Plan.

What might these improvements look like? To help illustrate what these improvements might look like, we have developed an interactive rendering of a portion of the highway which allows users to get a 360 degree view of what these improvements will look like. Click here to explore the rendering.

The North Dakota Department of Transportation has created a website for the project. Visit Mandan Memorial Highway Improvements | NDDOT for more information. To submit comments, email input@memorialhighwayproject.com.

 

Newsletter #2 What's Next? Project timeline update

Thank you to the many businesses, landowners, and residents who have been involved in planning for the Memorial Highway Improvements project to date. Here is a quick update of what you can expect in the coming months.

First, let’s look back at 2019. The Memorial Highway reconstruction project is currently scheduled to begin during the 2022 construction season and design of the project continues to progress. In 2019, project progress was heavily focused on collecting public input. A survey and open house in the spring for the business owners along the corridor provided valuable insight into public thoughts about the project. Two opportunities for public input were offered to engage with the project team and learn more about the overall scope of the project.

Coming in 2020. Milestones in 2020 will include the completion of the environmental document anticipated in the spring, right-of-way acquisition and easements acquired in the summer and Phase 1 plans completed in the fall. Project bids are anticipated in 2021.

The North Dakota Department of Transportation has created a website for the project. Visit Mandan Memorial Highway Improvements | NDDOT for more information. To submit comments, email input@memorialhighwayproject.com. 

 

Newsletter #1 Community Engagement & What We've Heard

Thank you to the many businesses, landowners, and residents who have been involved in planning for the Memorial Highway Improvements project to date. We greatly appreciate your input and have summarized the community engagement and main themes we’ve heard so far below.

Input
60 Questionnaires received from local businesses and landowners
2 Public meetings held to collect input from members of the public
2 Business meetings held to collect input from businesses along Memorial Highway
43 Comments collected at the business and public meetings

Responses
99% of customers drive to access the businesses located near Memorial highway, according to businesses and landowners
Business & Landowner Top Concerns
67% have concerns about access
55% have concerns about deliveries
28% have concerns about safety
35% have other concerns (cost, good improvements to keep growing Mandan, drainage problems)
92+% of businesses and landowners generally support the Mandan Memorial Highway Improvements project

Key Themes
Access: Businesses and landowners have questions and concerns about what will happen to their approaches, access points, and, if a median is constructed, access to their business. Many comments were received in favor of access improvements using signals at 40th Ave SE and 3rd St SE.

Bike & Ped: Many who commented requested improved bike and pedestrian amenities to address safety concerns. Some expressed concerns about path upkeep and snow removal.

Utilities & Cost: Businesses and landowners had concerns about disruptions to utility service, especially water. Others had concerns about the cost of the project and the cost of ongoing maintenance once complete.

Weather: Maintenance and snow plowing were top of mind for many when considering new amenities like sidewalks, a shared-use trail, and medians.

Thanks again to all who have shared your thoughts on the project! Your input is crucial to help inform our design decisions moving forward. The project team will be responding to individual comments in the near future. We will also continue to share and discuss the feedback as we develop long-term solutions for the corridor.

FOR MORE INFORMATION visit Mandan Memorial Highway Improvements | NDDOT

SUBMIT COMMENTS at input@memorialhighwayproject.com