$885 million on way for western ND

 

Gov says $885 million on way for western ND

By The Associated Press
and Nick Smith

Williston Herald Gov. Jack Dalrymple said Tuesday the state has invested about $312 million in four months for roads, water and housing developments in western North Dakota.

Dalrymple says a majority of that money, about $120 million, has been spent on road projects in oil-producing counties. One of the larger upgrades is to widely travelled U.S. Highway 85 between Williston and Watford City. The recently-completed stretch features new turning and passing lanes. Plans are to make the road an undivided, four-lane highway in the future.

The governor says the state still has $885.3 million in its coffers that will go toward rebuilding roads and streets, upgrading wastewater treatment systems, addressing growing student enrollments and improving law enforcement and emergency services.

“The remarkable growth in western North Dakota’s oil and gas industry has created great benefits and opportunities for our state, but this growth brings its own challenges. Our progress is not without hardships, but we are fully committed to meeting the challenges of rapid economic growth”, Dalrymple said.

” Dalrymple also announced that state officials will participate in a series of community meetings to hear from residents in oil country”.
During the 2011 session of the North Dakota Legislature, nearly $1 billion in funding was approved for oil country. In a week-long November special session, the Legislature approved an additional $35 million to the Oil and Gas Impact Grant Fund. An additional 13 troopers from the North Dakota Highway Patrol are also to be stationed in oil country.

Through Oct. 31, $56.8 million out of the $135 million in the Oil and Gas Impact Grant Fund had been committed. Of this, $12 million had been awarded to Williston, $7.7 million to Tioga, $5 million to Dickinson, $4.1 million to Stanley and $4 million to Minot.

Work on the recently-approved Western Area Water Supply (WAWS) Project has also begun.
A total of $110 million has been approved for the current biennium toward the project. The remaining $40 million is expected to be approved to finish the project during the next biennium.

Of this money, a total of $5.9 million has been spent so far. The first few pieces of the project are nearly completed.

Pipeline has been placed out to areas around the city of Williston that are in the process of being annexed. Lines have also been placed west along U.S. Highway 2 out to what is known as the Four Mile Corner as well as north along Highway 2 to the site of the new Bakken Industrial Park. Improvements to the city’s 26th Street pump station have also been made.

R&T Water Supply Association is improving its water treatment plant, while in McKenzie County a line heading south from the Missouri River is in the works. These projects will become part of the WAWS Project upon completion.

To relieve traffic around communities impacted by increasing oil traffic, several truck bypass routes are being planned. In Williston, work is expected to begin on a temporary route in the spring. It is expected to be completed by July 2012.
Work on a permanent truck bypass route is expected to begin in 2013.

Similar routes are to be built around Dickinson, Alexander, New Town and Watford City.
The state also has spent approximately $19.5 million out of $142 million for county and township roads in oil country. Williams County was approved for about $19 million out of the $142 million. How much of what Williams County’s allocation has been spent was not available.
Dalrymple said the challenges in oil country require not just money, but the efforts of everyone working together.
“It requires innovative solutions and a strong commitment from the state, our counties and cities and private industry,” Dalrymple said.