Ulteig’s commitment to providing comprehensive environmental planning solutions for projects is exemplified in the Grand Forks Southside Interchange project. With a team of skilled engineers and environmental scientists, Ulteig played a pivotal role in addressing traffic congestion while minimizing environmental impact in south Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Identifying the Need for Solutions in Grand Forks
In 2017, the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) conducted an extensive I-29 Interstate Operations Study. The study aimed to identify existing and future traffic operations while evaluating potential solutions for addressing the area’s traffic needs. Among the areas of concern were the 32nd Avenue interchange and the adjacent corridor toward the east.
After considering various alternatives, it was determined that construction of a new interchange in south Grand Forks would be the only feasible solution to alleviate long-term congestion on 32nd Avenue and accommodate the city’s projected growth to the south.
Ulteig’s Involvement
Ulteig, along with our teaming partner Bolton & Menk, was selected by the North Dakota Department of Transportation to lead the preliminary design and environmental clearance of this new interchange. Led by Project Manager Mike Huffington, the Ulteig team implemented a robust alternatives development and analysis effort, engaging with the NDDOT, the City of Grand Forks and other local stakeholders. A total of eight build alternatives were carried forward for analysis in the environmental document, resulting in a selected alternative consisting of a signals and loops interchange configuration location along 47th Avenue.
Environmental Services Provided
Nikki Olson, Professional Engineer and member of Ulteig’s environmental team, served as Ulteig’s environmental lead for this project. Environmental services completed for this project included an aquatic resources delineation, preparation of a documented categorical exclusion (CATEX), Section 4(f) evaluation, Endangered Species Act coordination, solicitation of views letters, multiple public input meetings, stakeholder meetings, class III cultural resources inventory, traffic noise analysis and Phase I Environmental Site Assessment.
The comprehensive approach adopted by Ulteig ensured that all necessary environmental considerations were thoroughly addressed, allowing for a well-rounded project execution.
Overcoming Challenges
Nikki Olson explained the challenges faced during the project and how Ulteig overcame them. “We had to model more alternatives for the noise analysis than originally planned, and several receivers did not validate in the field due to ambient noise sources. This resulted in additional coordination with NDDOT and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and additional time spent modeling the noise.”
She emphasized that “the continued communication and teamwork allowed us to work well with NDDOT, FHWA and our partners to get the noise analysis completed and approved.”
Leverage Sustainable Transportation Solutions with Ulteig
With the Grand Forks Southside Interchange project, Ulteig reaffirms its commitment to delivering environmentally sound engineering solutions. The project stands as a testament to the power of expertise, innovation and collaboration in creating infrastructure that serves the community while respecting the human and natural environment.
To learn how we can support your initiatives with comprehensive traffic engineering services, modeling and environmental planning, get in touch with our team today.
