EGF receives update on neighborhood bridge

Representatives from the North Dakota and Minnesota DOT’s have been invited to the next MPO Board meeting to discuss the possibility of a fourth bridge linking Grand Forks and East Grand Forks.

The East Grand Forks council received an update report last night (Tuesday) on the findings of an ad hoc committee looking at potential sites at Elks and 32nd Avenue South.

Committee and council member Brian Larson says although a study analysis didn’t find major differences in terms of cost and flood protection the traffic flow data gave 32^nd the edge.  Larson says the report suggests the benefits for traffic flow would be greater on the Grand Forks side of the river.

Council member Clarence Vetter says the next step should be the creation of subcommittee consisting of officials from both cities for a true collaborative effort.

East Grand Forks leaders may ready a resolution in the coming weeks setting aside future dollars for an environmental study on a potential bridge.

The bridge committee did not study a possible bridge location at Merrifield Road – because it falls outside the jurisdiction of East Grand Forks.