Just noticed that there is no general thread for either of the Dakotas. North Dakota has some nice roads, but I'm really surprised that they haven't boosted their speed limit to 80 yet.
They have done some widening on 2 and 85 ing the oil fields. Also the Ports to Plains in Mid South is relevant. It includes Western North Dakota.
If you search the Central State board with the term "Williston" or "Bismarck", you will find various threads going back to 2013 talking about the various upgrades they have been doing.
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on May 20, 2020, 12:16:27 AM
Just noticed that there is no general thread for either of the Dakotas. North Dakota has some nice roads, but I'm really surprised that they haven't boosted their speed limit to 80 yet.
The legislature voted on it last year, but it did not pass. I wouldn't be surprised if it came up again next year. Considering South Dakota and Montana are at 80, there will be push to do it. Plus, those states have had at 80 for a few years, how do the fatality and speeding numbers compare to when it was 75? That would be part of the argument.
What are your 2 lane and 4 lane expressway speeds?
Quote from: 3467 on May 25, 2020, 06:41:35 PM
What are your 2 lane and 4 lane expressway speeds?
I think 65 for 2 lane and 70 for 4 lane, with 75 on interstates.
I remember reading that NDDOT said the cost were too high to reconstruct parts of the interstate/ramps/etc to handle 80 mph. Off the top of my head, I can't think anything that would require reconstruction to accommodate a higher speed. I mean, ND has a 3-stack flyover ramp in Fargo. They got rid of the I-190 one in Rapid City years ago.
SD did do a speed limit increase in a heartbeat, along with a gas tax increase (the same bill in the legislature). Funny how that works out.
80 is a tad to high for me, and I've noticed a lot of people in SD still doing 75.
I hate ND speed limits. Every single town, on a state/US highway, they will lower you from 65 to 45 to 25, and I don't want to go 25 through some of these towns. That's literally crawling.
Quote from: M86 on August 01, 2020, 02:17:00 AM
I remember reading that NDDOT said the cost were too high to reconstruct parts of the interstate/ramps/etc to handle 80 mph. Off the top of my head, I can't think anything that would require reconstruction to accommodate a higher speed. I mean, ND has a 3-stack flyover ramp in Fargo. They got rid of the I-190 one in Rapid City years ago.
SD did do a speed limit increase in a heartbeat, along with a gas tax increase (the same bill in the legislature). Funny how that works out.
80 is a tad to high for me, and I've noticed a lot of people in SD still doing 75.
I hate ND speed limits. Every single town, on a state/US highway, they will lower you from 65 to 45 to 25, and I don't want to go 25 through some of these towns. That's literally crawling.
80 isn't that high. Tons of people go 80 in much more densely populated Massachusetts.
^ Or in most of the other Midwest states that are only posted at 70. Even some of the work zones around Chicago posted at 45 have 80+ mph traffic (when traffic is actually moving).
I haven't driven in North Dakota, but Iowa seems similar with the speed limit stepping down from 55 to an intermediate level (35 seems common), then down to 25 for many towns. It's one thing if the road squeezes through a business district with on-street parking, but some of the 25 mph sections seem to drag on.
Agreed, 80 isn't that high, it's just personal preference and habit, I guess.
I've driven in plenty of metros in the Midwest and the South, and always keep up with traffic. Not sure I've ever encountered all traffic going 80 in a dense metro area, maybe that's a regional thing? I was just in the Twin Cities and people were generally going 10 over the speed limit, which varied from 55 to 65.
And I cringe thinking about 80 through a 45 mph work zone area. That is how workers are killed.
South Dakota has some interesting signs that say 'Highway Workers, Give 'Em A Brake' with a construction worker image that are scattered about. in the winter season, they'll change to 'Snow Plows, Give 'Em A Brake' with an image of a snow plow. I'll have to try and get a pic of one of them sometime. They're pretty unique.
Don't like driving any more than 80, and have to use the cruise control to keep it there. I'll do it in rural areas where it's legal like Kansas. I usually stay around 75, but I have hit 100 when I was younger in a couple sports cars because I wasn't paying attention. (Fortunately, no tickets.) North Dakota is easily rural and flat enough for 80 mph speeds. I'm surprised that it's only 75.
Quote from: skluth on August 06, 2020, 06:01:11 PM
Don't like driving any more than 80, and have to use the cruise control to keep it there. I'll do it in rural areas where it's legal like Kansas. I usually stay around 75, but I have hit 100 when I was younger in a couple sports cars because I wasn't paying attention. (Fortunately, no tickets.) North Dakota is easily rural and flat enough for 80 mph speeds. I'm surprised that it's only 75.
It's legal to do 80 in Kansas? I didn't know that.
I know when South Dakota went to 80 on interstates that there was no tolerance. I heard stories of being pulled over for going a couple over. I'm sure that's more relaxed now.
Quote from: kphoger on August 07, 2020, 09:26:11 AM
Quote from: M86 on August 07, 2020, 02:12:58 AM
It's legal to do 80 in Kansas?
nope
The speed limit is 75 so I'm guessing you won't get pulled over at 80.
Quote from: kphoger on August 07, 2020, 10:51:32 AM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on August 07, 2020, 10:46:49 AM
Quote from: kphoger on August 07, 2020, 09:26:11 AM
Quote from: M86 on August 07, 2020, 02:12:58 AM
It's legal to do 80 in Kansas?
nope
The speed limit is 75 so I'm guessing you won't get pulled over at 80.
...which doesn't make it legal.
Well I guess it's technically illegal to go 56 on MA 128 but of course the de facto speed limit is higher. I don't know how traffic enforcement works in Kansas, will you be pulled over at 80?
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on August 07, 2020, 11:31:11 AM
I don't know how traffic enforcement works in Kansas, will you be pulled over at 80?
Not the point.
Quote from: kphoger on August 07, 2020, 11:33:44 AM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on August 07, 2020, 11:31:11 AM
I don't know how traffic enforcement works in Kansas, will you be pulled over at 80?
Not the point.
What's the point?
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on August 07, 2020, 12:14:38 PM
What's the point?
"It's legal to do 80 in Kansas" is a false statement.
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on August 07, 2020, 12:14:38 PM
What's the point?
The point is that it's not legal to do 80 in Kansas.
It isn't legal to go 78 mph on the Eisenhower in Chicago, but you won't get pulled over for it either. It isn't legal to go 65 on two-lane rural highways in Illinois, but you won't get pulled over for it either. It isn't legal to cross the street on the left half of the crosswalk in New York, but you won't get a ticket for it either. It isn't legal to coast downhill with the transmission in neutral in New York, but you won't get a ticket for it either. For that matter, it isn't legal to leave your trash can in front of your house in Wichita, but my neighbors do so without any hassle.
Quote from: kphoger on August 07, 2020, 09:26:11 AM
Quote from: M86 on August 07, 2020, 02:12:58 AM
It's legal to do 80 in Kansas?
nope
I'm old enough to remember when it WAS legal to drive 80 on the Kansas Turnpike. **sigh**
Quote from: M86 on August 01, 2020, 02:17:00 AM
I remember reading that NDDOT said the cost were too high to reconstruct parts of the interstate/ramps/etc to handle 80 mph. Off the top of my head, I can't think anything that would require reconstruction to accommodate a higher speed. I mean, ND has a 3-stack flyover ramp in Fargo. They got rid of the I-190 one in Rapid City years ago.
Advisory speeds posted for those specific areas would suffice. South Dakota was the first place I've seen advisory speeds on curves posted for 75 mph. I suspect NDDOT was fishing for a plausible-sounding response.
Quote from: rte66man on August 07, 2020, 09:16:57 PM
Quote from: kphoger on August 07, 2020, 09:26:11 AM
Quote from: M86 on August 07, 2020, 02:12:58 AM
It's legal to do 80 in Kansas?
nope
I'm old enough to remember when it WAS legal to drive 80 on the Kansas Turnpike. **sigh**
That's probably what I remember. We took it on the way back to Wisconsin from California back in the 60's.
Signage in North Dakota has taken a hit after Clearview was scrapped. This is in Jamestown:
https://goo.gl/maps/BjVEWhAtqAqiqGVa9 (https://goo.gl/maps/BjVEWhAtqAqiqGVa9)
Maybe it's just me, but the style they are using for the city names is awful.
There's also a signage error that was placed after they installed signals at both ramps to US 281 & I-94.
That appears to be mixed-case chocolate Series D. It wouldn't be terrible if it was bigger, but Series E(M) would be better.
Quote from: M86 on August 04, 2020, 01:49:01 AM
South Dakota has some interesting signs that say 'Highway Workers, Give 'Em A Brake' with a construction worker image that are scattered about. in the winter season, they'll change to 'Snow Plows, Give 'Em A Brake' with an image of a snow plow. I'll have to try and get a pic of one of them sometime. They're pretty unique.
Sorry for the bump (Actually it wasnt replied to that long ago i guess) but I just wanted to put one of these on here
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50253686212_225d88c1dd_k.jpg)
Here's a narrow, winding dirt road northwest of Minot with a signed 55 mph speed limit. There's no way you could safely drive at those speeds on this road. Some paved county roads in Ward County are signed at 65 mph.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/2541/3805962707_98b7eb77fa_b.jpg)
Quote from: bugo on September 01, 2020, 01:22:40 AM
Here's a narrow, winding dirt road northwest of Minot with a signed 55 mph speed limit. There's no way you could safely drive at those speeds on this road. Some paved county roads in Ward County are signed at 65 mph.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/2541/3805962707_98b7eb77fa_b.jpg)
Texas is smiling up at its cold cousin.
Quote from: STLmapboy on September 01, 2020, 09:37:50 AM
Quote from: bugo on September 01, 2020, 01:22:40 AM
Here's a narrow, winding dirt road northwest of Minot with a signed 55 mph speed limit. There's no way you could safely drive at those speeds on this road. Some paved county roads in Ward County are signed at 65 mph.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/2541/3805962707_98b7eb77fa_b.jpg)
Texas is smiling up at its cold cousin.
My first thought here is . . .
. . . FIA Rally Time!!!
:cool:
Mike
What's the sign facing the other direction? Does the 55 sign just mark the end of a speed zone? I believe the default speed limit on gravel roads in ND is 55 mph, so I'm wondering if that sign just signifies there's no other speed limit in effect right there.
Quote from: M86 on September 15, 2020, 02:02:38 AM
So a young road geek posted something, and you guys just go to town. Disgusting.
Wut.
Heck, I live in town, so there's not even any need for me to go to town.
Quote from: M86 on September 15, 2020, 02:02:38 AM
So a young road geek posted something, and you guys just go to town. Disgusting.
:confused:
NDDOT to repair exit 257, pursue removal of interchange (https://www.jamestownsun.com/news/local/nddot-to-repair-exit-257-pursue-removal-of-interchange)
The NDDOT will move forward with its planned structure rehabilitation project on exit 257. The rehabilitation project on exit 257 will be paid for using federal and state dollars.
JAMESTOWN — Exit 257 at Jamestown will be repaired this summer, and the North Dakota Department of Transportation will pursue the removal of the interchange in the long term, according to a document the NDDOT sent to Mayor Dwaine Heinrich.
"In the long-term, the existing partial interchange configuration is also not amenable to NDDOT," the document said. "At such time when the Exit 257 structure needs to be replaced or a safety concern arises from the current conditions, NDDOT will pursue the removal of this interchange in its entirety."
The NDDOT will move forward with its planned structure rehabilitation project on exit 257. The rehabilitation project on exit 257 will be paid for using federal and state dollars.
No timeline has been established for the project because it is still being designed, said Michael Johnson, urban engineer in the local government division at the NDDOT.
The project includes repairs to the abutments, spalls, expansion joints and approach slabs and putting a new surface over the driving surface of the bridge deck, he said. He said the repairs were identified as part of NDDOT's statewide bridge inspection process that it does on all of its structures.
"Right now with the structure rehabilitation project we are pursuing, we anticipate depending on how it reacts to future loading and traffic, that could last anywhere from five to 10 years," he said. "Maybe it could go a little bit longer if everything performs well. When it gets close to that time again of considering another rehabilitation project or something larger, that's when we would start our conversation with the city again and revisit our options for that area."
Heinrich said making the repairs are just "kicking the can down the road." He said in January that the city's position is not having anything less than what it already has, which is a westbound on-ramp and an eastbound off-ramp.
"If all we are asking for is to keep what we have now, I don't see why that is in any way, shape or form unreasonable," he said, referring to having a westbound on-ramp and an eastbound off-ramp.
Johnson said the NDDOT has not identified any safety concerns with exit 257. He said the city of Jamestown was provided information about the current design of exit 257 and how it interacts with Interstate 94.
He said a left-hand exit is not a desirable design anymore because the close proximity between exits 256 and 257, which are about 1 mile apart, creates traffic interaction on I-94 that has shown a crash history and the potential for an increase in accidents relative to the rest of the interstate system.
"The DOT has a policy where we like to see a minimum of 2 miles between interchanges in an urban area," he said. "But federal guidance allows us to go down to a minimum of 1 mile."
Other factors in pursuing the removal of exit 257 are overheight loads striking the structure in the past and it only provides two movements – an eastbound off and westbound on, Johnson said.
"So we worked with them quite a bit at looking at options relating to how we could provide a different type of interaction in that area related to the interstate and access over the interstate," he said. "We've discussed those options with the city and at this time we are moving forward with the rehabilitation project."
City of Jamestown's proposed designs
The NDDOT said it reviewed the city's proposed concept design for an interchange at exit 257.
Heinrich said exit 257 was not designed by the city of Jamestown and correcting the design should be done at the expense of the NDDOT.
The city of Jamestown has proposed overpass designs at exit 257. The first is a new overpass west of Calvary Cemetery that would connect to 18th Avenue Southwest south of I-94 and go north to 17th Street Southwest. The overpass includes a right-hand eastbound off-ramp and a westbound on-ramp.
Eighteenth Avenue Southwest is a street that would be located directly west of a planned commercial implement dealership and east of the new Anne Carlsen Center and has not been developed in that area. The street would be located just north of 20th Street Southwest, which is the road that is just south of Jamestown Regional Medical Center.
"The DOT was concerned about it not being a mile from 256," Heinrich said.
He said the alternate designs have to do with the eastbound traffic. He said the first alternative would have an off-ramp for eastbound traffic on the west side of the new overpass.
The other alternative to get the eastbound off-ramp a mile from exit 256 is to allow eastbound traffic to go under the new overpass and have an off-ramp that would take motorists to 17th Avenue Southwest. Seventeenth Avenue Southwest is located where 20th Street, which is south of JRMC, and 23rd Street Southwest, which is north of Menards, meet west of Menards where there is a kinked U-shaped street.
" ... We allow the traffic to go past the overpass, take a right and come down the section line road where the funky curve is down the road," Heinrich said. "Then of course if they come to town they would have the option to take a left going to Menards, have the option of taking a right going toward the hospital, Anne Carlsen, or going back to the overpass on into Jamestown."
He said if the eastbound off-ramp cannot be within a mile of exit 256 the off-ramp could be located after the new overpass.
"So when you are driving on I-94 you go under the overpass and then you go a little distance then make a right off onto the section-line road (17th Avenue Southwest)," Heinrich said. "And then on the westbound, they could keep the westbound as it is or design it however they wish, as long as you can get back to the interstate at that location."
City Engineer Travis Dillman said closing exit 257 and having a new overpass built will help alleviate the stress on 25th Street Southwest, which is the road that goes by Applebee's and the site where Perkins Family Restaurant was formerly located. He said building the overpass would give another route for people to get to the area of future development near JRMC.
"I think we are all very much aware that it would be beneficial to Jamestown to have an overpass there so traffic could cross over the interstate at that location to get easier access to Menards and the hospital and new Anne Carlsen Center area," Heinrich said. "That's not difficult to understand. It can be done where it is not detrimental to Jamestown."
Dillman said a study would need to be done to see what the impacts are of removing exit 257, especially if Bison World is in Jamestown.
"We do believe some sort of configuration to allow a left off at 257 even if we configured it helps alleviate some of the stress at 258," he said.
Johnson said the NDDOT will collect data on traffic counts and patterns when exit 257 is repaired. He said exit 257 will be shut down for a period of time so the repairs can be made to the structure while some work can be done without closing the exit.
"I think it will help and I think it helps the DOT because some of those are tied to the DOT corridor," Dillman said, referring to the NDDOT collecting data. " ... I think the big thing really is with the future growth patterns and especially with Bison World looking at that, that's where a lot more traffic coming into the Jamestown area in that general area is going to be a concern that needs to be addressed. There are solutions to all of these. It just needs to be taken into consideration that we make sure that it has a minimal negative traffic impact."
^ If they try to move it to be farther from Exit 256, then it just becomes too close to Exit 258 per FHWA spacing guidelines. I don't really see why they need to keep Exit 257.
Quote from: froggie on February 07, 2022, 09:47:17 AM
^ If they try to move it to be farther from Exit 256, then it just becomes too close to Exit 258 per FHWA spacing guidelines. I don't really see why they need to keep Exit 257.
Because the city will raise a political stink in Bismarck if they remove it. It should probably go, but who knows when mayors start whining to the press.
Quote from: SD Mapman on February 07, 2022, 12:30:47 PM
Quote from: froggie on February 07, 2022, 09:47:17 AM
^ If they try to move it to be farther from Exit 256, then it just becomes too close to Exit 258 per FHWA spacing guidelines. I don't really see why they need to keep Exit 257.
Because the city will raise a political stink in Bismarck if they remove it. It should probably go, but who knows when mayors start whining to the press.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Jamestown,+ND/@46.8919787,-98.7285598,1071m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x52d0130b50e588d1:0xbece7efaccd8b57!8m2!3d46.9105438!4d-98.7084357
Considering that the Business 94 (17th St SW) frontage road already ties in to the I-94 frontage road all the way to Bypass 52/281, NDDOT can (and should) be neighborly to Jamestown and not only remove Exit 257 but obliterate Business 94 from 8th Ave SW onward. Then, connect that north frontage road to the existing 17th St SW at 8th Ave SW, thus treating that north frontage road as the main road. If NDDOT has to majority-fund rebuilding that north frontage road with curb and gutter, so be it. NDDOT is doing its civic duty by getting rid of both a non-compliant (to modern standards) exit and resolving what has become an obsolete situation on Business 94 with its dual frontage roads AND two-lane main road.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Tzf36Lk8gk
I-94's exit 161 interchange in Bismarck will be rebuilt into a "modified SPUI" interchange where there will be two new loop ramps added to the existing interchange. This concept reminds me of the one that was recently modified to this exact style in West Fargo: https://www.google.com/maps/@46.8499675,-96.9077514,17z
I don't know what that is, but it's not a SPUI. Where's the single point?
That is to a SPUI as a folded diamond interchange is to a regular diamond interchange (in other words, it's as much a SPUI as a folded diamond is a diamond, which is not at all), although I can kind of see what they're going for.
Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, MN officials are looking into the feasibility of a new Red River crossing, with their current preference being a continuation of 32nd Avenue South (https://www.google.com/maps/place/East+Grand+Forks,+MN+56721/@47.8901037,-97.0303427,16z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x52c6869211b57849:0xf02939f31bdf686d!8m2!3d47.9311871!4d-97.009347). However there is no existing road on the Minnesota side to tie into, so that would be just one of the obstacles faced.
https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/local/east-grand-forks-city-council-members-hear-update-on-consultant-hiring-process-for-intercity-bridge
https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/local/east-grand-forks-city-council-members-discuss-benefits-of-a-potential-bridge-on-32nd-avenue-south
Quote from: Great Lakes Roads on March 29, 2022, 01:42:27 PM
This concept reminds me of the one that was recently modified to this exact style in West Fargo: https://www.google.com/maps/@46.8499675,-96.9077514,17z
Those look more like a continuous green-T/partial cloverleaf hybrids than modified SPUIs.
The lack of a second signal for the Sheyenne Street example for exiting traffic where it crosses the left turn (https://goo.gl/maps/5TgQDupbp1kxor5z7) seems questionable. There's never going to be any vehicles exiting eastbound that enter the first intersection during the later half of the yellow light and fails to clear the second intersection before the left turn onto WB I-94 gets a green or flashing yellow arrow?
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on April 12, 2022, 08:41:15 PM
Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, MN officials are looking into the feasibility of a new Red River crossing, with their current preference being a continuation of 32nd Avenue South (https://www.google.com/maps/place/East+Grand+Forks,+MN+56721/@47.8901037,-97.0303427,16z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x52c6869211b57849:0xf02939f31bdf686d!8m2!3d47.9311871!4d-97.009347). However there is no existing road on the Minnesota side to tie into, so that would be just one of the obstacles faced.
https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/local/east-grand-forks-city-council-members-hear-update-on-consultant-hiring-process-for-intercity-bridge
https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/local/east-grand-forks-city-council-members-discuss-benefits-of-a-potential-bridge-on-32nd-avenue-south
I mean I would just extend 190th St SW a bit south to meet it at the river, seems pretty logical.
One thing about North Dakota I find fascinating is the fact that Interstate 94 had sequential exit numbers until the early 1990s (they converted to mileage-based around 1993, by my estimation). Did Interstate 29 also have sequential exit numbers? If so, it had to have been converted before Interstate 94's exit numbers were.
https://www.kfyrtv.com/2023/03/22/nd-senate-votes-raise-interstate-speed-limits-80-mph-already-passed-house/
YAY, both the House and the Senate passed the bill to raise the speed limits on I-94 and I-29 from 75 mph to 80 mph! All it really needs now to make it a reality is a signature from the governor. :clap:
Great, maybe next we can bump the Interstate speed limits in Fargo up from 55 mph.
Quote from: Great Lakes Roads on March 23, 2023, 03:55:37 AM
https://www.kfyrtv.com/2023/03/22/nd-senate-votes-raise-interstate-speed-limits-80-mph-already-passed-house/
YAY, both the House and the Senate passed the bill to raise the speed limits on I-94 and I-29 from 75 mph to 80 mph! All it really needs now to make it a reality is a signature from the governor. :clap:
ONE OF US ONE OF US ONE OF US
Quote from: SD Mapman on March 25, 2023, 11:38:18 PM
Quote from: Great Lakes Roads on March 23, 2023, 03:55:37 AM
https://www.kfyrtv.com/2023/03/22/nd-senate-votes-raise-interstate-speed-limits-80-mph-already-passed-house/
YAY, both the House and the Senate passed the bill to raise the speed limits on I-94 and I-29 from 75 mph to 80 mph! All it really needs now to make it a reality is a signature from the governor. :clap:
ONE OF US ONE OF US ONE OF US
Yes, exactly! My parents used to live in Dickinson, ND, so coming from Montana it was irritating to have to slow down 5 MPH just because ND didn't want to join the cool kids club.
Kind of pointless, though, if you do the math. A 75 mph trip across North Dakota on I-94 is not even 30 minutes slower than a trip across North Dakota at 80 mph on I-94.
The relationship between speed and travel time is non-linear.
Quote from: triplemultiplex on March 27, 2023, 01:00:51 PM
Kind of pointless, though, if you do the math. A 75 mph trip across North Dakota on I-94 is not even 30 minutes slower than a trip across North Dakota at 80 mph on I-94.
The relationship between speed and travel time is non-linear.
I mean, it feels a heck of a lot faster (admittedly subjective, as a runner I am very familiar with the inverse relationship between travel time and speed). Maybe it's just because my dad drove slower than 75 growing up, so now 80 (or 85 if I'm in a rush) feels like teleportation.
Governor Burgum has vetoed the 80 MPH bill. Guess it's up to see how much appetite the legislature may have to override.
He added on the original ND House passage for 80 MPH did not have a veto-proof majority, so it's probably not good on that front.
https://twitter.com/JackFromNoDak/status/1641439333264814088
What a fucker
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on March 30, 2023, 05:59:49 PM
Governor Burgum has vetoed the 80 MPH bill. Guess it's up to see how much appetite the legislature may have to override.
He added on the original ND House passage for 80 MPH did not have a veto-proof majority, so it's probably not good on that front.
https://twitter.com/JackFromNoDak/status/1641439333264814088
WHY?? :banghead:
QuoteThe increased risk runs counter to the goals of Vision Zero, North Dakota's multi-agency effort to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries caused by motor vehicle crashes. The 98 fatalities from motor vehicle crashes in North Dakota recorded in 2022 was the lowest annual total in 20 years, yet much work remains to improve seat belt usage in our state. In 2022, approximately 2 out of 3 fatalities were unbelted where seat belts were present in the vehicle.
Compared with secondary enforcement laws, primary seat belt laws have been associated with a 10% to 12% higher observed seat belt use rate according to 2019 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
A primary seat belt law is a reasonable and responsible means of mitigating the increased risk of a higher speed limit. In the absence of a primary seat belt law, I am unable to support the heightened risk of an increased speed limit on interstates.
The thing is that people are already going 80-85 with the 75 mph speed limit. This would bring speed limits to meet what traffic is already doing. And to try to hinge this limit on a primary seatbelt enforcement for minimal gain in usage is nonsense.
If I were super cynical, I'd say the governor wants to transfer the semi-pretextual stops for speeding (since most cars will be "speeding", the police can be selective on whom they enforce the law) to seatbelts (most police cannot see into a car and see if someone is buckled up except at slow speeds, and they can selectively pull over someone whom they "suspect" of not wearing a seatbelt and then find the suspicion to search the car).
The state legislature, as analysts indicated would happen failed to override the vetoing of the 80 MPH bill, so no increased speed limits coming to BD interstates.
https://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/north-dakota-house-sustains-burgums-veto-of-80-mph-speed-limit/article_82469380-d22a-11ed-853b-e7216bfb7ddb.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=user-share
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on March 30, 2023, 05:59:49 PM
Governor Burgum has vetoed the 80 MPH bill. Guess it's up to see how much appetite the legislature may have to override.
He added on the original ND House passage for 80 MPH did not have a veto-proof majority, so it's probably not good on that front.
https://twitter.com/JackFromNoDak/status/1641439333264814088
Hey, I support his veto of one of those 2 bills. Not the 80 mph one though, he should have signed that one...
https://www.kfyrtv.com/2023/04/10/north-dakota-lawmakers-revive-bill-speed-limit-increase/
It's back!
"The House voted on and passed an amended version of Senate Bill 2168 which deals with speeding violations, the use of safety belts, and traffic fines and penalties. Governor Doug Burgum vetoed a bill last month that would have increased the speed limit to 80 mph. With this bill, lawmakers are hoping to promote several key elements of vehicle safety while also increasing the speed limit and improving the seat belt law.
"The entire time we were working on that senate bill, it was under the context that we would be dealing with 80 mph. When the governor vetoed that, we decided to put in that bill so we could still deal with those speeding fines in such a way that made sense with 80 mph," said Rep. Ben Koppelman, R-West Fargo."
From the USDOT's Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program:
Theodore Roosevelt Expressway Freight Safety Project
Award: $55,000,000
McKenzie County, North Dakota
Applicant: North Dakota Department of Transportation
Project Description:
This project will widen approximately 13.3 miles of the US-85
Corridor in McKenzie County from a two-lane highway to a
four-lane highway while also widening shoulders and
straightening curves from Watford City to I-94.
Project Benefits:
The project is strong in Safety; Economic Impacts, Freight
Movement and Job Creation; and Innovation. The project is
expected to address safety by upgrading this 2-lane rural road
to a 4-lane road, which will improve access to emergency
services and medical transportation needs in a remote area. The
project will also facilitate the transport of goods in an important
agricultural region of the country. The corridor improvements
include innovative ITS devices, such as the Weigh in Motion
sensors, dynamic message signs, and environmental sensor
stations (ESS). Additionally, NDDOT has established agreements
with Tribal Consultation Committees and has applied digital
stakeholder engagement strategies in the planning for this
project.
The Grant Marsh bridge on I-94 in Bismarck needs to be replaced, so they've combined a study of replacing it with redoing the 94/194 intersection and exit to Mandan.
One option mentioned was to build a tunnel under the Missouri instead of a bridge. Doesn't really seem practical, it feels to me like one option they give just to have multiple options to choose from.
Westbound 94 from bridge will most likely be rebuilt next to the eastbound roadway so two left exits can be removed. They've also mentioned the option of local only lanes to let drivers stay separate from the through traffic. For instance, when leaving Mandan, they could have a split in the roadway so if you want to get in Bismarck Expressway, you could get in a lane that takes you there without having to merge onto 94 and then exit off.
https://www.dot.nd.gov/projects/bismarck/midway-grantmarsh/
Quote from: WestDakota on January 07, 2024, 01:37:17 AM
The Grant Marsh bridge on I-94 in Bismarck needs to be replaced, so they've combined a study of replacing it with redoing the 94/194 intersection and exit to Mandan.
One option mentioned was to build a tunnel under the Missouri instead of a bridge. Doesn't really seem practical, it feels to me like one option they give just to have multiple options to choose from.
Westbound 94 from bridge will most likely be rebuilt next to the eastbound roadway so two left exits can be removed. They've also mentioned the option of local only lanes to let drivers stay separate from the through traffic. For instance, when leaving Mandan, they could have a split in the roadway so if you want to get in Bismarck Expressway, you could get in a lane that takes you there without having to merge onto 94 and then exit off.
https://www.dot.nd.gov/projects/bismarck/midway-grantmarsh/
I saw this a few days ago. Two things:
1. If NDDOT and the city of Mandan are willing to be rid of the Main Ave. half-exit and have local traffic rely on Mandan Ave for their exit, the solution is quite simple with a trumpet exit from the right (instead of left) lane.
2. I hope that NDDOT has been paying attention to the heavy delays SDDOT has been experiencing with their Pierre Missouri River bridge replacement (at least two years). Specifically, NDDOT needs to be taking advantage of the two extra 4-lane bridges to the south and CLOSE I-94 at the Missouri River in order to get this replacement finished.
Quote from: brad2971 on January 07, 2024, 01:12:41 PM
Specifically, NDDOT needs to be taking advantage of the two extra 4-lane bridges to the south and CLOSE I-94 at the Missouri River in order to get this replacement finished.
Well that's completely unnecessary. Plenty of room to build a new bridge next to the existing one either up or down stream, then shift traffic over when its done.