NDDOT engineers presented four alternatives, including a $40 million interchange and a roundabout.

“Our goal is to reduce or eliminate that high speed right angle crash, and we want to reduce the severity of any crash that would happen,” said NDDOT engineer Sara Cahlin.

The roughly 200 people in attendance saw concerns with most of the options.

Truckers voiced concern about getting through a roundabout, which also wasn’t a popular option with the general public at a public meeting in December 2023 or on Monday. The public liked the idea of an interchange at the December meeting as well.

North Dakota Department of Transportation engineers Michael Johnson, left, and Sara Cahlin present information on alternatives for the intersection of Highways 23 and 83 at a public meeting Monday in Max.

Engineers favor a roundabout for safety reasons, noting it potentially could reduce fatal crashes by 59% and overall crashes by 33%, based on statistics associated with other North Dakota roundabouts.

The intersection has experienced 12 fatal crashes from 1999-2024, with 11 of those involving traffic on southbound 83. All were the result of motorists crossing N.D. 23 after failing to yield.

Another option that drew some public interest would reduce southbound U.S. 83 to a single through lane coming into the intersection, with a separate right merge lane onto N.D. 23 going west. Many in the crowd had issues with reducing U.S. 83 to a single lane with a reduced speed of 55 mph. However, engineers stated that without the single lane, motorists would ignore the lower speed limit, eliminating the benefit of the alternative.

A fourth alternative is to require traffic coming from the west on N.D. 23 to turn right to go south on U.S. 83. Those wanting to go north or east would proceed to a U-turn that would allow them to merge onto northbound U.S. 83. Traffic coming from the east on N.D. 23 would have a similar right turn and U-turn merge in this reduced conflict intersection design. There no longer would be an east-west movement as that median would close to through traffic.

A similar design was installed on U.S. 83 (Broadway) in Minot at Walmart. Residents raised concerns about drivers who skirt the installed traffic barriers in Minot and warned that impatient or confused drivers may take the same risks at the U.S. 83 and N.D. 23 intersection.

A study by the Minnesota Department of Transportation on reduced conflict intersections in that state found a 69% decrease in fatal and serious injury crashes and 70% decrease in angle crashes, according to NDDOT. However, it also found a 103% increase in rear-end crashes.

Because of the cost, progress on an interchange is at least 10 years out on the horizon, while other alternatives could be started more quickly, the NDDOT information showed. The $12 million-$16 million roundabout could be built in the next four to 10 years. The reduced conflict intersection and speed and lane reduction proposal could be accomplished in less than four years at a cost of as little as $3 million. The numbers reflect current costs and don’t account for future inflation.

Each of the alternatives come with disadvantages. The interchange would have a 20-foot, 6-inch clearance height for oversized load routes. The roundabout fails to maintain free flow on U.S. 83, reducing speeds to 30 mph through the teardrop design at each the east and west sides of the intersection. Reducing speed and lanes also doesn’t eliminate high speed, right angle crashes but may reduce them, the NDDOT reported.

Some residents suggested heightened law enforcement needs to be part of the solution, while others recommended more driver alerts on N.D. 23 approaching the intersection. There was a suggestion for the state to direct more oil money generated in western North Dakota to address oil impact by installing an interchange.

“Put it in and get it done,” one emphatic resident said.

“Right now, our goal is to get through this process and figure out what the plan is for this intersection ong term,” said NDDOT engineer Michael Johnson. “If we’re on something that’s only going to take us three years, let’s start that development. Let’s get that going. Let’s get that in place. If it’s something longer, like the interchange, then, yeah, we’ve got to probably have a longer discussion. Is there something we need to do more in the interim beyond the rumble strips, the lighted stop signs, the additional signage, the lighted flashing lights?”

The NDDOT will continue to take written comments until April 15. Comments can be sent to Sara Cahlin, NDDOT, 608 E. Boulevard Ave., Bismarck, ND 58503 or scahlin@nd.gov.