Members of the Williston City Commission met with other city officials Thursday afternoon to view and discuss ideas for the Highway 2 west bypass being discussed as part of the city's new Comprehensive Plan.

The meeting began at 3 p.m. on the second floor of City Hall and lasted a little over 90 minutes. Commissioners and officials gathered around as Public Works Director Monte Meiers explained the various ideas pinpointed on a series of maps.

Meiers explained that what they were talking about Thursday were potential changes to consider for the Highway 2 west bypass. He said with the increasing volume of traffic, that of both trucking and residential traffic, the bypass is a key area of their transportation plan to consider future work.

"I thought before we got too far down the road and came forward with any preferable options that we should get all of you together to look at what we've got so you've had input and there are no surprises," said Meiers.

According to data gathered so far, several concerns have been noted and need to be addressed in some way along the bypass. Major concerns noted so far include traffic operational issues at the intersection of Highway 2, 26th Street and Second Avenue, the several collector and local streets between the highway and 26th Street, and safety concerns involving pedestrian crossings. Meiers said as he began showing the various maps to the commissioners "we felt there was a need for a grade separation of some sort."

A grade separation would include an overpass or underpass.

Four different alternatives were presented to the commissioners.

"Would most of these projects qualify for grant money or matching federal funds?" asked Mayor Ward Koeser.

Meiers replied that virtually all of them would.

"But the odds of getting them in a short amount of time would be quite slim. And you'd have to compete with other cities after the same dollars as you at the same time," said Meiers.

He added that the comprehensive plan is a long-term plan that isn't necessarily going to see major results immediately upon approval.

It may take several years or longer to make many of the proposed changes happen.

One major change and improvement being proposed in the various plans include some kind of grade separation of 26th Street and Highway 2, coupled with a relocation of the Highway 2 and Second Avenue West intersection.

The size of this potential overpass and relocation varies between the different options, three of which propose it in some form. One of the proposals even includes removing the frontage road along the west side of Highway 2 between 26th Street and Airport Road for this purpose.

Another major idea is to build a grade separation at Ninth Avenue Northwest and possibly include a bike and pedestrian crossing at a separated grade as well.

A third major change proposed is to construct a roadway connection between 18th Street West and Bison Drive West as well as a grade separation between this connection and Highway 2.

Another possibility proposed is to move the northbound Highway 2 lanes to the west, starting at 16th Avenue West, so they're spaced closer together.

Many of the other changes proposed include eliminating access from some of the local streets west of the bypass, eliminating sections of certain frontage roads and improving or adding traffic signals at various locations.

Commissioner Brent Bogar said the 26th Street and Highway 2 is an important area to figure out a solution to helping with traffic flow. He said as residential and trucking traffic increases with the area's growth, keeping things moving smoothly in this area will be critical.

"Only 10 percent of our traffic is trucking. It would alleviate some traffic, but it still wouldn't totally alleviate our traffic as a growing city," said Bogar.

He added that the overall improvements will be important to the city's future.

Meiers asked the commissioners if they felt at least one grade separation of some sort seems like something that is absolutely needed. Bogar said that is the number one thing he's heard from residents when talking about dealing with the bypass. So did commissioner Howard Klug.

"A lot of people really seem to think so," said Klug.

Discussion about the various grade separation ideas were discussed further.

Commissioner Brad Bekkedahl said finding a solution to the bypass is a critical part of the city's future, while citing a comparison to railroads.

He said in Williston, there are no railroad crossings impairing people's travel or trucking like in most other cities.

"This is our railroad. We have to find a way to get around this in at least a couple of spots," said Bekkedahl.

Further work continues on the transportation portion as well as the rest of the city's new comprehensive plan, tentatively to be completed by the end of the year.

The plan was last updated in 1984.

A public input meeting on the comprehensive plan likely will be scheduled for early December. City officials urge people to come and share their thoughts and concerns, as the decisions they ultimately make will impact everyone.

For more information about the City of Williston's work on its new Comprehensive Plan, visit www.willistonplan.com.