The purpose of the proposed project is to route US Highway 85 around the City of Alexander to accommodate the increased transportation demand within the area (which is driven by industry traffic from oil and gas development in western North Dakota) as well as to maintain consistency with the proposed US Highway 85 corridor widening. The proposed project would improve the capacity on the highway as well as improve the safety on this segment of US Highway 85 to better address local driver and pedestrian concerns within Alexander.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has determined that the preferred alternative will have no significant impact on the environment. The preferred alternative has been identified as Alternative B. This would involve realigning US Highway 85 and ND Highway 23 around the south side of Watford City on a new alignment. Beginning south of Watford City, the proposed US Highway 85 alignment would transition from the existing alignment approximately 3.2 miles south of the junction of US Highway 85 and ND Highway 23 and reconnect with existing US Highway 85 approximately 3.3 miles west of the junction. The proposed alignment for ND Highway 23 would begin with a connection to the proposed US Highway 85 south of Watford City and generally head northeast and connect with existing ND Highway 23 east of the ND Highway 1806 junction. The total project length would be approximately 13.3 miles. The preferred typical section would consist of a four-lane undivided roadway with a flush center median, which is consistent with the typical section that is being developed for the US Highway 85 4-lane widening project and other projects along the highway. This FONSI is based on the attached May 2013 Environmental Assessment which has been independently evaluated by FHWA and determined to adequately and accurately discuss the need, environmental issues and impacts of the proposed project and appropriate mitigation measures. It provides sufficient evidence and analysis for determining that an Environmental Impact Statement is not required. The FHWA takes full responsibility for the accuracy, scope, and content of the Environmental Assessment.

The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is proposing to construct a highway bypass on United States (US) Highway 85 around Alexander, North Dakota. The project would construct a bypass around Alexander while maintaining the existing US Highway 85 alignment (Elk Street) within the corporate limits of the city.

Watford City, McKenzie County, the North Dakota Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, is proposing to construct a highway bypass route on United States (US) Highway 85 and North Dakota Highway 23 around Watford City, North Dakota. The proposed project would improve system continuity along US Highway 85.

The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), in cooperation with the lead federal agency, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and cooperating agencies, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and US Coast Guard (USCG), is proposing to construct a four lane highway along US Highway 85 between McKenzie County Road 16 and the junction of US Highway 2 in McKenzie and Williams Counties, North Dakota. The project consists of modifying the existing roadway to four lanes and replacing the Lewis & Clark Bridge over the Missouri River near Williston.

The purpose of the project is to provide additional system capacity to alleviate congestion on West Dakota Parkway/2nd Avenue W, provide future system linkage with a reroute of US 85 that provides a direct arterial route around the City of Williston, meet forecast traffic demand, support the movement of goods, economic development and implementation of City and County land use plans by improving existing and future traffic flow through the City of Williston and the area west of the City of Williston, and address community concerns about safety for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians by reducing through traffic on the existing West Dakota Parkway/2nd Avenue W route through the City.