About
The US Highway 85 project encompasses approximately 62 miles of roadway in Stark, Billings, and McKenzie counties. The project begins at the Interstate 94 (I-94) interchange and extends north to the Watford City Bypass (McKenzie County Road 30). The project includes expanding US 85 from a two-lane highway to a four-lane highway, utilizing the existing US 85 alignment.
This project specifically will widen the road from near the Gorham Junction north to the intersection of North Dakota Highway 200 in Billings and McKenzie counties.
Current Status
The project is in the final engineering design phase, which includes plan development, utility coordination, and finalizing right-of-way needs. This work is expected to be completed in 2026. The next stages of the project, involving right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, and construction, are currently awaiting the allocation of necessary state and/or federal funding.
Final Environmental Impact Statement/Record of Decision
A Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision (FEIS/ROD) was completed in February 2019 that analyzed different alternatives and feasibility of construction of widening the highway in this area. The FEIS/ROD documented the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) decision on the US 85 Project, whose goal was to maintain and follow the existing US 85 alignment, utilizing the existing infrastructure to minimize potential impacts on environmental, socioeconomic, and human-made resources, to the maximum extent practicable. This document is available for viewing at: www.dot.nd.gov/highway85.
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