Northeast Bypass Project Off and Running | Video

Rich Wisniewski | 4/16/2012

The construction on 55th Street Northeast in Minot is not about building houses or businesses. It`s about the new 55th Street Bypass which is currently underway. The project has been in the works for quite a while, but last fall was when the wheels started rolling.

"It`s great! It`s great to see construction moving again for the season and we`re hoping to get some good weather to keep moving a long here," said project manager Jeff McElwain.

McElwain explains how crews were able to get a major jump this year.

"Early construction season here, the contractors were able to get going three weeks ahead of time."

Even before this spring, Mother Nature threw crews a bone, allowing them to work on this road late into last fall.

The project will have many benefits, according to the engineers. Perhaps the best part is that trucks will not have to worry about getting stuck behind the train that frequently crosses 55th Street.

"Traffic is stacked up a great deal most of the time," McElwain added.

Now the bridge will allow traffic to flow right overtop of the tracks. Not only is the bridge going to see a great deal of traffic, McElwain says that the project has been designed to handle it too.

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