Morton County staff reported Sept. 2 that restoration work on Solder Ditch is complete and the affected roads have been reopened.

Staff presented photographs and described the channel as substantially wider than before, noting the change should allow emergency vehicles easier passage and improve downstream flow. A separate pipe on an adjoining drive that had been damaged was replaced, wrapped with riprap and re-asphalted, staff said.

The crew said the project used grant funding and that repeated changes to the grant reviewer’s standards had required multiple resubmissions. "Every time we submit, they change things," a staff member said, describing frustration with inconsistent reviewer feedback. Board members discussed longevity of the new bridge or crossing; estimates given in the meeting ranged from about 40–75 years depending on traffic and design.