Jill Schramm/MDN Michael Johnson, left, urban engineer with the North Dakota Department of Transportation, talks with Loren and Jan Ness about the proposed traffic signaling project in Minot Thursday in Minot City Hall.

Some of Minot’s major roadways would become more pedestrian and left-turn friendly under highway signaling changes proposed by the City of Minot and North Dakota Department of Transportation.

The two entities held an open house Thursday to enable the public to get a look at the plans and provide feedback.

Changes will be made at 26 intersections. Proposed upgrades include flashing yellow arrows, accessible pedestrian signal pushbuttons with countdowns, and dynamic no-right turn signals. The no-right turn signals would trigger when a walk light activates, protecting pedestrians while in the crosswalk.

Designed to improve safety and traffic flow, the project would be installed in 2026.

However, an additional change would eliminate the existing signal at East Burdick and Eighth Avenue Southeast, near the fairgrounds and Clarion Hotel. A traffic study found no signal is warranted at that intersection, which could be managed with a two-way stop. The study recommends additional analysis for installing a pedestrian crossing with beacons.

Craig Rudland, general manager for the North Dakota State Fair, said the timing of the study appears to have inadequately taken into account pedestrian and vehicle traffic to and from the fairgrounds, which is more sporadic but can be heavy.

“I’m just asking them to look a little deeper into the whole story of those lights,” Rudland said.

The signals were installed following a pedestrian fatality during Norsk Hostfest several years ago. There had been an earlier instance of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle as well, Rudland said.

“I just believe it’s a real safety issue in removing those lights. It would just endanger people,” he said.

The traffic study identified other intersections around Minot where traffic signals also aren’t warranted, but in those cases, removal isn’t being recommended because of issues such as sight distances and anticipated future traffic increases.

Among intersections scheduled for improvements are those along Broadway and Burdick that currently lack some of the safety features. Other intersections are 16th Street and 21st Avenue Northwest; 16th Street and Fourth Avenue Northwest; Sixth Street and Third Avenue Northwest; Third Street and Fifth Avenue Northeast; 16th Street and 37th Avenue Southwest; Sixth Street and Second Avenue Southwest; 16th Street and 31st Avenue Southwest; U.S. Highway 2 and 13th Street Southeast; and U.S. 2 and 55th Street Southeast.

Jan and Loren Ness, who stopped by the open house, said they are pleased with proposed improvements, especially the flashing yellow left-turn signals.

“We are happy with everything they are doing. They are going to make it smoother and easier,” Jan Ness said.