GF/EGF bridge impact study nearing completion

Consultants are putting the final touches on a report that looks at the idea of a new neighborhood bridge linking Grand Forks and East Grand Forks.

The analysis looks at bridge locations at Elks Drive and 32nd Avenue South.

Transportation consultant Tim Burkhardt says both options address the needs of a fourth bridge – but 32nd Avenue has greater cumulative benefits in terms of hours and miles traveled.  Burkhardt adds the cost is greater than the benefit for the Elks Drive project – while the benefits are greater than the costs for 32^nd.  “The benefit is about $30.3 million dollars for Elks Drive and about $48.5 million for 32nd Avenue South.”

Burkhardt told a recent meeting of the Bridge Impact Study Committee that both bridges would also need to address school safety issues.  “School safety would be designed in with either option.  None of the traffic that we see on the segments is a no go from an engineering standpoint.”

The study does not recommend one option over the other.  An open house is set for tonight (Thursday) at the East Grand Forks City Hall to discuss the bridge impact study.  (4:30-6:30 p.m.)

Picture:  Rendering for Bridge Traffic Impact Committee