Date: March 6, 2017
Agency: North Dakota Joint Information Center
Contact: Morton County PIO (701) 595-3596 or (701) 426-1587
Bismarck, N.D. – State Highway 1806 near the Cannonball River and Backwater Bridge in southern Morton County may soon reopen. The section of this highway is currently closed from Fort Rice to the junction of Highway 1806 and Highway 24. Conditions for the phased approach to reopening are listed below. If all of these conditions are in place Monday, March 13, a decision will be made about a phased reopening of Highway 1806, based on the threat assessment.
- Debris must be removed from Sacred Stone camp by heavy equipment and semi-tractors, which could impede safe travel
- Highway 1806 must be cleaned and debris removed to include mud, jersey barriers, law enforcement and construction equipment
- There must be no identifiable threat from protesters to block the highway, as they have done repeatedly in the past
- A pilot car or checkpoint may be used to keep a reduced and safe speed limit
- The North Dakota Department of Transportation will place automated traffic signs with additional safety information
The NDDOT completed its initial repair work to the Backwater Bridge on Feb. 13. The damaged and burned guardrails were replaced on Feb. 10, and surface patching has also been completed. The NDDOT will perform a more thorough surface repair during the summer construction season when weather permits.
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