Watford City Mayor advocates for four-lane highway expansion in Washington, D.C.
Steve Hallstrom
Special to The Farmer
Phil Riely, the mayor of Watford City, North Dakota, is reflecting on last week’s trip to Washington, D.C., where he and a delegation from the “Ports to Plains Alliance” spent a week lobbying for the expansion of Highway 85 into a four-lane divided highway. The ambitious project, part of the broader Theodore Roosevelt Expressway, aims to create a seamless four-lane corridor stretching from the Canadian border in Montana to the Mexican border, enhancing safety and commerce across multiple states.
Riely, joined by several other North Dakota stakeholders, met with the state’s congressional delegation to push for federal support and funding. The Ports to Plains Alliance, which includes the Theodore Roosevelt Expressway, the Heartland Expressway, and a Texas-based segment, seeks to connect key agricultural and industrial regions across states like North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas.
“We want to take Highway 85 and make it a divided four-lane, much like Highway 2 across North Dakota,” Riely explained. “This corridor hauls food, fuel, and fiber throughout the nation. And if you look at the Bakken, or you want to talk about soybeans or grain, or you get down into some of the other states with cotton. There are a lot of things that this nation thrives on. There are a lot of things in your home right now that will travel up and down this Highway 85 corridor.”
The Alliance seeks to tie in with efforts to expand Interstate 27 out of Texas, which currently spans 124 miles between Lubbock and Amarillo. Ironically, this interstate highway only serves the state of Texas. The effort gained significant momentum in March 2022, when President Joe Biden signed the $1.5 trillion FY 2022 omnibus appropriations bill, paving the way for an eventual expansion of I-27.
Highway 85 connects Watford City to Interstate 94 at Belfield, about 67 miles south. Currently, 85 is two lanes from 15 miles south of Watford City all the way down to I-94.
The delegation’s visit, dubbed the “Ports to Plains Fly-In,” included what Riely called productive meetings with Senator John Hoeven and Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak, though a planned meeting with Senator Kevin Cramer was postponed due to scheduling conflicts. Riely described a memorable moment when Hoeven pulled the group aside just off the Senate floor, even arranging underground train transport for the visit.
The mayor also noted brief encounters with high-profile figures like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who appeared “pretty grumpy,” humorously suggesting that it might have been a good day for Republicans in the nation’s capital.
For Riely, the project is personal. Having spent 20 years with the Watford City Fire Department, he has personally witnessed countless accidents on the current two-lane Highway 85. “We went from being a fire department to a crash-and-rescue squad,” he recalled. “There wasn’t a mile of that road where I couldn’t tell my wife and kids about a wreck that I had gone to, whether it might be a minor wreck to a multiple-person fatality. So, I’m super excited about the four-lane just for easing up traffic. And actually, the public safety aspect for me is monstrous. Because I like to get out on my motorcycle and cruise the highways, and thinking about my wife and kids at home, it’s nice to be able to do it safely.”
Progress is already underway. North Dakota has secured a $55 million federal grant, matched by the state, to fund a four-lane stretch from the south end of the Badlands to Highway 200. Environmental impact statements are complete or in progress for additional sections, including from Highway 200 to Interstate 94 and from Belfield to the South Dakota line.
“We already have the funding to what I call the Killdeer Corner at the junction of 85 and 200 (about 35 miles south of Watford City),” says Riely. “The remaining side…is still in the air. So when (Congress) does come up with a budget, hopefully there will be some funding earmarked for that, and President Trump is huge into infrastructure. So hopefully his big push into aging infrastructure will give us, in North Dakota, a little bit of a boost.”
Riely remains optimistic about federal support, especially with President Donald Trump’s emphasis on infrastructure investment. “If we can get a budget passed with a 90-10 or even a 50-50 match, it’d be spectacular for our aging infrastructure,” he said. The next phase, from the Badlands to Highway 200, is set to bid this year, with further segments hinging on legislative outcomes.
Beyond safety, the project promises economic benefits. With the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library opening in Medora next year, Riely envisions a “tourist triangle” linking the library, the national park, and Mount Rushmore, driving commerce to western North Dakota. “We want heads in beds and butts in seats-whether it’s restaurants or theaters,” he said. “Once people visit, they fall in love with this place.”
The delegation received bipartisan encouragement in D.C., including from a Washington Democrat state senator who expressed genuine support for improving highway safety and connectivity. “It’s refreshing to see red and blue come together,” Riely said, “on something that benefits everyone.”
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