Future Bridge Alignment Traffic Study

Alliant worked with the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks Metropolitan Planning Organization and agency partners to identify the location of a new river crossing between the two communities.

This additional crossing was needed to reduce congestion and support economic development, but regional agreement on the need and location had historically been limited. To navigate this challenge, Alliant developed a clear decision-making structure and led meetings with a unique bridge crossing advisory committee that included elected officials, community members, and business representatives. To understand and validate project needs, Alliant coordinated with local agencies to integrate updated land use data into travel forecasting and conducted StreetLight data analysis to understand and communicate existing travel patterns and demand. Potential alignment options were screened against features including socioeconomics, school impacts, intersection performance, functional classification, natural resource and floodplain impacts, among others. Public involvement was key to the success of the project, leveraging online interaction through Social Pinpoint, and in-person pop-up events ensured broad community engagement. The study resulted in alignment and facility recommendations that are now being developed into an implementation plan, identifying sequencing and triggers.