Residents react to 16th Street plans

Local News Residents react to 16th Street plans By JILL SCHRAMM November 11, 2026 5 min read JILL SCHRAMM/MDN City of Minot Traffic Engineer Stephen Joersz, left, points to a map feature as he answers residents’ questions about the 16th Street Southwest reconstruction project at a public meeting Tuesday, Nov. 10, at Perkett School. JILL SCHRAMM/MDN Project lead Levi Heller with Apex Engineering, left, visits with Zach Mehus, right, as they look over display boards at the open house portion of a public meeting on the 16th Street Southwest reconstruction project Tuesday, Nov. 10, at Perkett School. JILL SCHRAMM/MDN Project manager Matt Kinsella speaks to residents at a public meeting on the 16th Street Southwest reconstruction project Tuesday, Nov. 10. 1 / 3 expand close ✕ JILL SCHRAMM/MDN City of Minot Traffic Engineer Stephen Joersz, left, points to a map feature as he answers residents’ questions about the 16th Street Southwest reconstruction project at a public meeting Tuesday, Nov. 10, at Perkett School. JILL SCHRAMM/MDN Project lead Levi Heller with Apex Engineering, left, visits with Zach Mehus, right, as they look over display boards at the open house portion of a public meeting on the 16th Street Southwest reconstruction project Tuesday, Nov. 10, at Perkett School. JILL SCHRAMM/MDN Project manager Matt Kinsella speaks to residents at a public meeting on the 16th Street Southwest reconstruction project Tuesday, Nov. 10. 1 / 3 Trending Minot residents neighboring the second phase of 16th Street Southwest reconstruction aired misgivings about roundabouts and the ability of the project to stay under budget at a public meeting held Tuesday, Nov. 10, at Perkett School. The second phase extends from Burdick Expressway north to Second Avenue Southwest and would be constructed in 2028. The first phase reconstructed 16th Street from Burdick south to 14th Avenue Southwest in 2025. Included in the engineer's recommendation for the northern phase is a roundabout at Fifth Avenue Southwest. Options still in consideration call for a roundabout at Seventh Avenue Southwest instead, or a roundabout at both intersections. Among resident concerns was the danger of serious crashes in the winter should unaware motorists drive over the roundabout. There was concern two roundabouts would cause traffic to back up at the Second Avenue and Burdick intersections during peak traffic hours. Reducing the driving lanes from four to two with an inner turn lane was seen as worsening the problem. Already traffic can back up at times to the point that motorists can't get out at Fifth Avenue, one resident stated, calling roundabouts a bad idea. "They're not going to solve anything," he said. There were questions about pedestrian crossing safety on 16th Street, especially children, which already is an issue. Residents asked engineers to investigate the feasibility and financial cost of a stoplight instead of a roundabout. The removal of a home to make way for a roundabout was troubling to some, including next-door neighbors who worry their own homes might be closer to the roundabout than they feel is comfortable. One resident was adamant about not living next to a roundabout. Asked about cost savings associated with dropping the roundabout plan, residents were given rough figures of $700,000-$800,000 per roundabout in a project estimated at between $12.74 million and $15.6 million in 2028 dollars, depending on the design features selected. Project manager Matt Kinsella with Apex Engineering sought to alleviate public apprehension about cost overruns. The bid on the southern portion of 16th Street came in under the estimate, he said. "The project won't proceed into construction unless the funds are all there to be able to take it all the way through and complete it," Kinsella added. The project has been approved for $5.37 million in federal funds. The City of Minot's $5.7 million to $6.3 million share will be funded through state Hub City oil and gas funds and city water and sewer fund reserves. No special assessments are proposed. The public meeting drew a crowd that gathered around maps to talk with engineers about potential impacts on their neighborhoods and commutes. A similar meeting had been held three years ago, but with the time lapse and updates to the project, the decision was made to hold another meeting. The primary changes since 2023 are proposals for a roundabout at Fifth Avenue instead of at Seventh Avenue and the elimination of bike lanes, which residents had opposed for safety reasons. In eliminating bike lanes, engineers widened the east-side sidewalk to 10 feet to allow shared path use while leaving the sidewalk on the west side of the street at 5 feet. The three-lane roadway would narrow slightly, becoming about a half lane more distant from the houses along the street. The project also calls for asphalt pavement replacement between Seventh and Fifth avenues and panel replacement as needed in the concrete pavement that exists in the remainder of the project area. Underground utilities would be replaced at that time, and ADA accessibility, such as curb ramps, would be built into the reconstruction. Engineers also plan to address the road curvatures that make navigation more difficult and create entry challenges from Fifth Avenue. One of the options to a roundabout at Fifth Avenue is to prohibit left turns. The recommendation includes an updated traffic signal at Second Avenue Southwest, new street lighting and a speed limit change adding a 30 mph transition zone near Burdick. Temporary easements and possible right of way likely will be needed from properties to accommodate construction. Engineers outlined a plan for maintaining access for residents during construction tentatively scheduled from May-October 2028. The 16th Street segment between Seventh Avenue and Fifth Avenue is expected to be closed and traffic detoured. The 16th Street Southwest bridge over the Souris River will remain open to traffic as much as possible. Kinsella said the preferred project design could be identified by next February and made bid-ready by August. With that in mind, public input is sought by Nov. 25, although there is some room for flexibility in the deadline, he said. Comments can be sent to [email protected] with "Public Input Meeting PCN 24303" in the subject line. Updates on the project will be available at minotroads.com and through an email newsletter that people can sign up for if they haven't already. To get on the list, email a request to Kelly Nissen, public information coordinator, at [email protected]. Residents on the email list will receive a link to an online survey that will be coming, likely in January. The City of Minot also will be making the survey available and providing project updates.