Work to Start Soon on Watford Bypass

WATFORD CITY, N.D. (AP) — State transportation officials are launching a traffic bypass project in the Watford City area.

The $55 million, 8-mile bypass will route U.S. Highway 85 traffic around the south side of the city. A ground-breaking ceremony was scheduled Tuesday, with construction set to begin next month. The work could take two years.

Traffic has become heavy in and around Watford City because of the booming western North Dakota oil patch.

The bypass is a separate piece of an ongoing $300 million project to four-lane Highway 85 between Watford City and Williston.