In the spring of 2003, the Memorial Bridge Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) met to review four alternatives to solving the Memorial Bridge problems. The TAC was made up of representatives from the North Dakota Department of Transportation, the cities of Bismarck and Mandan, and the consultants.

The TAC considered many factors, including the historic nature of the bridge, the long-term level of service for bridge users, the costs of alternatives, and the impact of closing the existing bridge for two years. The unanimous recommendations was "Alternate 2" - building a new, four-lane bridge to replace the existing two-lane bridge/ This alternative was approved by NDDOT and the cities of Bismarck and Mandan.

Selected location of the new bridge

The new bridge will be built south of the existing bridge because that alignment has the fewest right-of-way impacts, and provides better opportunities to improve the intersection at the east end of the bridge on Fraine Barracks Road.

Construction of the new bridge is expected to begin in the spring of 2006 and be completed in the fall of 2007.
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