Neighbors clustered around large aerial maps, pointing to the turn off U.S. Highway 2 into Grand Forks International Airport as state engineers walked through lane options and traffic flow. It was the second public input meeting the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) has held on the project this fall, aimed at settling on a safer, more efficient design for one of the region’s busiest gateways.
Airport Intersection Plans: Community Weighs Options
The NDDOT brought concept drawings and traffic analyses to a public input session focused on the Highway 2 intersection that serves Grand Forks International Airport (GFK). According to the agency’s presentation materials, two concepts are under consideration: a roundabout at the highway/airport access, either single- or two-lane depending on traffic volumes, and a compact diamond-shaped interchange that would separate through traffic from turning vehicles.
Turnout reflected the stakes for the community. Airport travelers, UND commuters, and logistics drivers who use US 2 weighed in alongside nearby residents. With UND’s semester rhythms, peak hockey weekends at Ralph Engelstad Arena, and steady activity from Grand Forks Air Force Base, many attendees said they’re looking for a design that keeps traffic moving in all seasons without sacrificing safety.
Project staff from NDDOT and the consulting engineering team staffed stations and answered questions, underscoring that public feedback will help shape how the preferred option is refined and phased.
Community Engages in Future Traffic Solutions
The conversation centered on everyday pain points drivers know well: left turns across fast-moving traffic, wide vehicle movements to and from the terminal area, and winter conditions that test visibility and stopping distance. NDDOT officials said they’re evaluating designs that improve safety while protecting access for trucks, airport shuttles, and private vehicles, based on traffic counts and growth assumptions shared at the meeting.
As residents examined the maps, questions clustered around two themes—safety in winter and ease of navigation for visitors. Several participants asked how plowing would work inside a multi-lane roundabout compared with ramps and bridges in a diamond interchange, and whether signing would be clear for first-time flyers and rental car drivers. Staff noted that both designs can be engineered for snow country operations and that the agency would coordinate signage with the airport and the City of Grand Forks as plans advance.
Unfolding the Proposals
Under the roundabout concept, circulating traffic would slow to posted speeds at the intersection, with either one or two lanes depending on peak-hour demand. The approach is intended to reduce severe right-angle and left-turn crashes by lowering speeds and eliminating traditional signal phases. Nationally, “roundabouts can reduce injury crashes by up to 82% at intersections where stop control or signals are replaced,” according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) safety guidance.
The diamond interchange concept would elevate or depress US 2 relative to airport access, separating through traffic from turning vehicles. Drivers would use short ramps to reach a pair of at-grade intersections at the ends of the overpass or underpass. This approach typically preserves higher speeds for regional traffic while reducing conflicts at the mainline, NDDOT staff said, though it requires more structure, footprint, and cost than a roundabout. The consultant team added that a diamond interchange can be designed with signals or small roundabouts at the ramp terminals to handle peak flows.
Public input matters now because both options must balance safety outcomes, wayfinding for visitors, truck movements, cost, and construction impacts. Engineers said feedback will inform which design best matches local priorities and how phasing could minimize disruptions during UND semesters and peak travel periods.
Voices from the Community
Residents and frequent users who attended pressed for clear wayfinding and reliable winter operations. Attendees asked how each design would accommodate long combination vehicles and whether snow storage and plow paths had been modeled—common concerns in the Red River Valley. NDDOT’s project team said those questions will help refine lane widths, curb radii, and barrier placement in the next design stage, emphasizing that maintenance staff will be part of the review.
Airport stakeholders highlighted the experience of first-time flyers and visiting families. Community members noted that a simpler driving decision at highway speeds could ease stress for visitors, especially at night or during storms. The engineering team responded that both alternatives would include lighting, signage consistent with airport standards, and coordination with the City of Grand Forks and GFK for consistent naming and directions.
Safety advocates pointed to the potential crash-reduction benefits of speed management at the intersection. As FHWA notes, roundabouts reduce the types of crashes that result in injuries and fatalities, while grade-separated interchanges reduce conflict points for through traffic—tradeoffs that will be weighed against cost and constructability.
What Happens Next?
Residents can submit comments on the two concepts through November 19, according to NDDOT’s public input timeline. Feedback can be provided via the agency’s Public Input page for the Grand Forks area projects or by mailing written comments to NDDOT Public Information in Bismarck; include “US 2/GFK Interchange” in the subject to direct your note to the project team. The agency said it will review all comments received by the deadline before refining a preferred alternative.
After the comment window, NDDOT and its consultant will evaluate public feedback alongside traffic modeling, safety performance, right-of-way needs, cost estimates, and maintenance considerations. A preferred design selection would trigger additional environmental documentation and detailed engineering, followed by future opportunities for public review. Construction timing will depend on funding and final design, and NDDOT said it will coordinate with UND, the airport, and the City of Grand Forks to limit travel disruptions during major events and school terms.
The project could also support broader development around GFK by clarifying access and improving travel times on US 2 between Grand Forks, the Air Force base, and communities to the west—an outcome local business groups and logistics operators have long sought, according to the Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce’s transportation priorities.
Moving Forward with Local Priorities
This planning effort ties directly to community goals: safer corridors in winter, predictable travel to and from UND and the airport, and room for economic growth. For many families and students, a clearer, safer intersection means fewer white-knuckle turns and more reliable connections to flights, classes, and hockey weekends.
Residents can stay engaged by following updates from the City of Grand Forks Engineering Department, the UND news office for campus travel advisories, and Grand Forks International Airport. The Grand Forks Air Force Base public affairs office also shares travel and road condition updates that affect airmen and their families who use US 2.
Conclusion: Keeping Grand Forks Moving
The decision at US 2 and the airport isn’t just about lanes and ramps—it’s about building a gateway that serves students, service members, visitors, and longtime residents in all seasons. Thoughtful input before November 19 will help NDDOT choose a design that fits Grand Forks’ values: practical, safe, and ready for the next decade of growth.
What to Watch
Public comments close November 19; NDDOT will publish a summary and identify a preferred alternative after review.
Look for notice of the next public meeting and design refinements this winter, including details on winter maintenance, signage, and construction phasing around UND and airport travel peaks.
