JAMESTOWN — Four alternatives were presented Thursday, April 18, for the reconstruction of Jamestown’s 10th Street Southeast intersection and Business Loop West.
A public comment meeting was held Thursday to discuss proposed improvements to U.S. Highway 52 from Seventh Avenue Southeast to Fourth Avenue Southwest. This is a project of the North Dakota Department of Transportation.
Business Loop West will be restructured from Southwest 4th Street to Southeast 10th Street. The intersection of U.S. Highway 52 and 10th Avenue Southeast will also be rebuilt, including two bridges over the James River. The project also includes repositioning the 1st Avenue South stripe from SE 7th Street to 10th Street to match the cross-section of the road diet project further north in the downtown area.
Masaki Ova / Jamestown Sun
The purpose of this project is to replace aging infrastructure such as pavements, bridges, and existing public facilities. Maintain vehicle mobility and access to local roads and shopping streets. Improve the pedestrian environment so that individuals can have a comfortable place to walk. Scott Harmstead, project manager at SRF Consulting Group Inc., said:
“The main reason is to maintain the movement and maneuverability of the vehicle,” he says. “This is the busiest hallway in Jamestown.”
Harmstead said about 20,000 vehicles travel on Route 52/Business Loop West in Jamestown per day. He said improvements need to take into account future projected needs.
“We expect traffic to increase,” he said.
Construction on the project is tentatively scheduled for summer 2027.
10th Street Intersection Alternatives
The four alternatives to the 10th Street intersection are a radial T, a double intersection, a displaced left turn, and a roundabout.
The Radial T includes two lanes for southbound and westbound traffic. This includes one northbound eastbound, one eastbound eastbound, one eastbound southbound, and one northbound westbound lane. It also includes one traffic light and a crosswalk.
Masaki Ova / Jamestown Sun
The double crossover has three traffic lights with crosswalks. If you are turning left, cross at two traffic lights. Only right turns are allowed when entering or exiting 2nd Avenue Southeast.
The relocated left turn intersection includes a westbound left turn movement that intersects at the east signal. This intersection will have two traffic lights with crosswalks. Only right turns are allowed when entering or exiting 2nd Avenue Southeast.
Bypass right-turn lanes are provided to the northwest and northeast of the roundabout. Also includes his two-lane entrance to all roads. The roundabout option would require obtaining a permanent right-of-way from the northeast site and reconfiguring parking spaces. The property includes the former Hardee’s and buildings that house Cornerstone Nutrition and Kropp Law Offices PC.
Masaki Ova / Jamestown Sun
Business Loop West Alternatives
Business Loop West alternatives include five lanes with two-way left-turn lanes, four lanes with full intersection access on all roads, four lanes with three-quarters intersection access, and four lanes with right-in-right turns. Includes lane crossing access. .
Masaki Ova / Jamestown Sun
The five-lane option is similar to what currently exists on Business Loop West. 10th Avenue Southwest and Riverside Drive will be repositioned to allow vehicles to more easily cross Business Loop West. It also includes raising the median near SW 2nd Street to allow pedestrians to cross Business Loop West.
Masaki Ova / Jamestown Sun
The four-lane option for the complete intersection includes the installation of a raised median from SW 4th Avenue to SW 10th Avenue and from SW 10th Avenue to SW 2nd Avenue. Tenth Street Southwest and Riverside Drive will be realigned. There will be left-turn lanes for eastbound and westbound traffic onto Southwest 10th Street.
Masaki Ova / Jamestown Sun
Four-lane options with access to three-quarters of the intersection include a raised center from SW 4th Street to SW 10th Street, SW 10th Street to SW 2nd Street, and SW 2nd Street to SW 10th Street intersection. Includes installation of separation strips. Traffic from 4th Avenue SW, 10th Avenue SW, and 2nd Avenue SW may only turn right onto Business Loop West. There will be left-turn lanes for eastbound and westbound traffic onto Southwest 10th Street. A left-turn lane for westbound traffic will also be added to enter 2nd Avenue Southwest.
Masaki Ova / Jamestown Sun
The four-lane right-in, right-out intersection option includes installing a median from the bottom of Mill Hill to the 10th Street Southeast intersection. Only right turns are allowed on 4th Avenue Southwest, 10th Street Southwest, Riverside Drive, and 2nd Avenue Southwest.
The public will have the opportunity to provide written comments on the project. Please send your comments by postmark or email by May 3rd.
Public comments can be emailed to SHrmstead@srfconsulting.com with “Virtual Public Input Meeting-PCN 23630” in the subject line.
Public comments may also be mailed to:
SRF Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
To: Scott Harmstead
2370 Vermont Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58504
To view project options, visit https://shorturl.at/dhjtU. Optional simulated traffic video for the intersection and Business Loop West is available at US 52 Reconstruction Visualizations.
Masaki Ova joined the Jamestown Sun in August 2021 as a reporter. He grew up on a farm near Pingree, North Dakota, and majored in communications at Jamestown College in North Dakota.
