COMPLETED 2023
This project has met its largest milestone and construction activities are now complete at this site. To celebrate the completion of our first rural bridge project in the Souris River basin, there was a ribbon cutting at the bridge on July 10, 2023, to officially open the bridge. Present at the ribbon cutting were Chairman Ashley and Directors Jonasson and Klein of the Souris River Joint Board, several local Velva residents, representatives of the ND Department of Water Resources, Minot Chamber EDC Ambassadors, the design team (HDR Engineering) and the bridge contractor (Swingen Construction).
Phase SA-1 Sawyer Bridge
urban flood control
The Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Project Preliminary Engineering Report released in 2012 looked at ways to alleviate the flood risk for the residents of Sawyer. One element of that plan included the replacement of the Highway 23 bridge in Sawyer.
Design of the Sawyer Bridge project was authorized by the SRJB and began in the fall of 2018. The new bridge will be raised and lengthened, in order to increase conveyance through the area. Engineers have completed approximately 60% of the design elements, which is depicted in the rendering below. A public meeting was held in Sawyer on July 18, 2019 to discuss the 60% plan and proposed detour routes.
