City commissioners in Mandan, North Dakota, have approved an $18 million infrastructure project in northwest Mandan.
The Street Improvement District 242 (2B) project will move forward with an engineering firm contracted for final design and bidding. City staff determined that written protests covered 45% of the land area within the district, short of the 50% threshold required under state law to halt the project. The project targets aging infrastructure in a residential area near Roosevelt Elementary School.
Project 2B primarily focuses on drinking water improvements. The Mandan neighborhood has seen 35 water main breaks over the past two decades, with 11 of those occurring in the past two years. Old, brittle cast-iron water mains will be replaced, along with lead service lines to homes near the front property line. Water and sewer upgrades are also planned, including repairs to areas with poor flow and the addition of a structural liner to existing clay pipes. Inadequate storm drains and sewers will be replaced, and road slopes will be adjusted to ensure rainfall flows and collects in the appropriate areas.
Street improvements are also planned, including sealing roads in good condition and removing and replacing those in poor condition. The project includes several quality of life improvements, such as replacing streetlight wiring and poles, installing ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps, trimming tree branches, replacing older street signs and improving pavement striping. Officials say the work is to provide comprehensive upgrades designed to last for years.
Notably, the project is moving forward despite objections from local stakeholders who face special assessments to help cover the cost.
Roughly 66% of funding for the project is covered through grants, with the remaining share financed through a state loan. Homeowners will repay that loan through monthly special assessments over 15 years, ranging from about $32 to $127.
With total homeowner cost ranges estimated at roughly $5,000 to $19,500, some residents have expressed concerns about the affordability of the project. Community members have urged the city to seek alternative funding sources before placing so much of the burden on homeowners. Officials argue the aging infrastructure needs replacement and that delays could increase long-term costs or risk service failures.
The decision leaves Mandan officials moving ahead with one of the city’s larger neighborhood infrastructure investments. Design work is expected to begin this spring, with construction anticipated from summer 2026 through fall 2027.
Photo by AnimGraph Lab from Pexels
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