Central ND News

The Memorial Highway reconstruction project in Mandan is set to commence in 2025. The undertaking involves a full-depth reconstruction of the highway from Main Street to the Memorial Bridge. Once completed, the roadway will feature a five-lane section with a center turn lane and medians with turn lanes at signalized intersections.

The project's estimated cost stands at $119 million, with federal and state contributions totaling approximately $89 million. The remaining $30 million will be funded through a combination of sources, including a city-wide special assessment and a tiered, localized utility assessment.

The city-wide special assessment is projected at $500 per parcel, payable over 20 years at $25 annually. This approach is employed for above-ground improvements as most residents in Mandan utilize or benefit from the roadway.

A tiered assessment targets properties either on-corridor or just off it, which are expected to benefit more than other community areas. Property owners affected by this will receive detailed information via mail about the street improvement district, estimated costs, and protest period. A 30-day protest period began on October 4th, allowing residents to submit protest letters to the Engineering Department by November 4th. Protests' sufficiency and public hearing considerations are scheduled for the City Commission meeting on November 5th at 5:30 p.m.

Final assessments distribution will be determined by the City Commission after review and approval by the Special Assessment Commission, expected in 2028.

City Engineer Jarek Wigness emphasized that securing bids for phase one this year is crucial to avoid losing $73 million currently secured in federal funding. "These funds have been carried over for several years and there’s pressure to get the project started," Wigness stated. "If we were to lose federal funding, we could see the project become a multi-phase project over a spread of many years because the improvements would need to be made piece-by-piece."

For further details on the Memorial Highway Reconstruction project, visit cityofmandan.com/mhp or contact the Engineering Department at 701-667-3225.