The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-06-20
NEW ROAD TO
RIVER BRIDGE
1c ACCEPTED
State and Federal Engineers
Inspect Highway, and Take
1t From Contractors
FINE BRIDGE APPROACH
First Link in Paved Highway
Which May Lead From
Penitentiary to Mandan

The concrete road leading from
Main street to the North Dakota Lii
berty Memorial Bridge has been
formally accepted from the Haggart
Construction Company, after inspec-
tion by S. r. Sharts. senior highway
engineer, U. S. Bureau of Public
Roads; W. G. Black, chief engineer
of the state highway commission
and j. A. Wallace, commission con
struction engineer.
The acceptance of this road mark
the completion of the first concrete
highway in Burleigh county, and
from the east end Of Main street to
the bridge is provided the longest
stretch of paved highway in this
section of the state. The plans
were to eventually continue the
paving east to the pcnitcntiary.
Participation by the federal gov
crnmcnt and the Northern Pacific
railroad in thc project lesscned the
expense to local taxpayers, since
half the total cost was paid by the
government and railroad.
The total estimated cost of the
project was $74,SO0 as shown by the
highway commission. The grading
cost was put at $4,000 and the paw
ing $4,000. OF this the govern
ment paid 80 percent while Burleigh
county paid 61 percent, this division
being because the government does
not allow more than $4,000 a mile
on concrete roads, a figure set SONG
years ago before the cost of con-
crete road making increased mater
tally.
Removes Grade Crossing
The underpass which removes
the grade crossing between Bis
marck and the bridge cost $4,000,
and emergency and contingency al
lowance was $6,sOO, bringing the to-
tai to $74,sO0, according to records
of the state highway commission.
Federal aid to the extent of $780,
600 was provided. and the Northern
Pacific paid $4,000 of the underpass
cost, the government paying the re-
mainder on this.
The road, an 18-foot concrete
roadway, has also gravel "should-
ers" on either side of three feet in
width, and is designed with max
imum grade of four percent. The
concrete is inches in the center
and 1-2 inches thick on the side.
The traffic between Mandan and
Bismarck since the opening of the
North Dakota Liberty Memorial
Bridge has exceeded the expecta-
tions of most people, and emphasize
ed the need Of good road between
the two cities. 1t is hoped by Nor
ton county to eventually pave from
Mandan to the new bridge, giving a
six-mile paved highway between the
Twin Cities of the Slope.
Another Underpass
1t was expected that Morton coun-
ty would be able to make arrange
ments to let paving contracts this
year, but this now is doubtful. How
ever, the Northern Pacific railroad
has taken step toward removing
one of the greatest objections to
the highway on the west side of
the river. It agreed to build an
underpass. Bids will be received
July 6.
The underpass will allow cars to
pass under both the main line and
north line tracks east of Mandan.
To do this it will be necessary for
the railroad to raise tracks dis
tance of several hundred feet either
way from the underpass. The cross
ing will be at the juncture of the
main line and north line tracks. The
cost of this underpass has been esti-
mated at $4,000.
The work of completing the gra-
vel highway from the bridge to
Mandan is progressing slowly. The
extreme eastern end of Main street,
Mandan, is now torn up in the re-
building process. 1t is expected the
gravel highway will be completed
this year.
The concrete highway from Bis
marck to the bridge was provided
for by the board of county commits
sioners with a membership as fol-
lows: E. A. Patterson, C. A. Swan
SON, Victor Moynier, Grant Palms,
c. L. Malone. Easement for the
right-of-way was given by Capt. l.
P. Baker. A bill was pushed through
the legislature IN 1921, one of the
purposes of which was to make it
possible for the concrete highway
expected between Bismarck and
Mandan to be lighted by the prison
electric lighting plant, and thus
greatly reduce the cost of main
tenance
Morton county dedicated the high
way between /. Mandan and the
bridge as soldiers memorial, and
trees have been planted along the
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