US 85 Expansion (I-94 to Watford City Bypass)

About The Project

The U.S. Highway 85 project encompasses approximately 62 miles of roadway in Stark, Billings, and McKenzie counties, North Dakota. The project begins at the Interstate 94 interchange and extends north to the Watford City Bypass (McKenzie County Road 30).

The proposed action is to expand this segment of U.S. 85 from a two-lane highway to a four-lane highway with flexible design options to avoid or minimize impacts and rehabilitate or replace the historic Long X Bridge over the Little Missouri River.

The goal of the project is to essentially maintain and follow the existing U.S. 85 alignment, utilizing the existing infrastructure to minimize potential impacts on environmental, socioeconomic, and human-made resources, to the maximum extent practicable.

Completed Projects

Long X Bridge replacement - 2020
Watford City to the Long X Bridge - 2024

Future Projects

Areas/Traffic Impacted

U.S. Highway 85 I-94 Interchange to Watford City Bypass Long X Bridge McKenzie County Road 30 Stark County Billings County McKenzie County

Public MeetingsView All Public Meeting Events

Public Meetings

2041

Events Page

Public Information Meeting - US 85, I-94 Junction to ND 200 Junction

Wednesday, May 28, 2025 - Thursday, May 29, 2025

Public Meetings US 85 Expansion (I-94 to Watford City Bypass)

The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) will host public information meetings Wednesday, May 28, 2025, and Thursday May 29, 2025, from 5-7 p.m. Mountain Time to discuss proposed improvements to US 85 from the I-94 junction to the ND 200 junction.

The first meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 28, at the Fairfield Fire Hall, 12823 20th Street SW, in Fairfield. The second meeting will be held on Thursday, May 29 at the Belfield Memorial Hall, 107 2nd Avenue NE, in Belfield. Both meetings will be an open house format with a formal presentation at 5:30 pm Mountain Time.

The project consists of widening US 85 from two lanes to four lanes.

FTF-5-085(089)075, PCN 24243; FTF-5-085(090)085, PCN 24244; FTF-5-085(091)093, PCN 24245

Public Information Meeting - US 85, I-94 Junction to ND 200 Junction

Thursday, May 29, 2025 - Friday, May 30, 2025

Public Meetings US 85 Expansion (I-94 to Watford City Bypass)

The project consists of widening US 85 from two lanes to four lanes.

FTF-5-085(089)075, PCN 24243; FTF-5-085(090)085, PCN 24244; FTF-5-085(091)093, PCN 24245

Additional Information

Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Record of Decision (ROD)

FEIS/ROD
- Appendices A-C
- Appendices D-E
- Appendices F
- DEIS Public and Agency Involvement Report
- Notice of Availability
- Notice of Limitation on Claims
- Technical Documents Appended by Reference to the FEIS/ROD are available upon request. Note that sensitive and/or confidential information will be redacted prior to release. Submit requests for technical documents to:
  - Chad Frisinger
    NDDOT – US 85 Project Manager
    608 East Boulevard Avenue
    Bismarck, ND 58507-0700
    Email: cfrising@nd.gov