Williston Leaders promote Ports-to-Plains Conference (US 85)

April 29, 2015
Williston Economic Development
Barbara Peterson

Note: The section of US Highway 85 that runs from the Rapid City, SD to Saskatchewan, Canada is the Theodore Roosevelt Expressway Corridor.

The Williston Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) and the Theodore Roosevelt Expressway Association participated in the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference. The conference was held April 28-30 at Evraz Place, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. The three entities promoted the 2015 Ports-to-Plains Alliance (PTP) Conference to be held in Williston this fall. The northern third of the PTP Corridor is the Theodore Roosevelt Expressway Corridor (TRE). The TRE runs from Rapid City, SD to Saskatchewan, Canada through the heart of the Bakken Shale Oil and Gas Play. Due to the TRE’s significant impact in North Dakota, the City of Williston will be hosting the 2015 PTP Conference October 6-8. The three-day event will provide exclusive updates on the projects in western North Dakota from an elite group of presenters and panelists. There will also be tours of energy-related projects, opportunities for networking; and much more. While in Canada, the TRE executive director networked with the state’s northern neighbors. “We visited our Canadian members and discussed transportation and trade issues along the TRE and the Ports to Plains Corridor,” said Cal Klewin. WED executive director Shawn Wenko said the WBPC also provides a great opportunity to promote a safe and effective transportation system through North Dakota’s oil patch. “Enhancing the transportation in western North Dakota is one of the fundamental keys to building the future of Williston. The TRE corridor is vital to creating a sustainable economy in Williston and our neighboring communities,” said Wenko. US 85 will undergo a major transformation throughout the 2015 construction season. “We will be seeing orange cones throughout the TRE Corridor with bridge replacement of the Lewis and Clark Bridge at Williston, and the completion of the four lanes from Watford City to Williston,” said Klewin The North Dakota Department of Transportation has completed significant projects along the TRE Corridor including repairs to the Long X Bridge and four-laning of the highway from Alexander to Watford City. The Port-to-Plains Alliance, Theodore Roosevelt Expressway Association, Williston Economic Development and Williston Convention and Visitors Bureau will release additional details about the 2015 Ports-to-Plains Conference as the event’s agenda is finalized.