Cass County highway official details July 2026 construction update, highlighting bridge projects and pavement recycling

An agency official for the Cass County Highway Department delivered a July 20, 2026 update on the county's 2026 construction program, reporting progress on road surfacing, drainage structures and two major bridge projects.

The official said County Road 10 remains among the county's largest projects. Phase 1 through Buffalo has finished removals, storm sewer work, curb and gutter, aggregate base preparation, and is now being paved; phase 2 has completed removals and storm sewer installation, with curb-and-gutter and paving slated to begin next week. When complete, the project will add improved drainage, new curb and gutter, an upgraded 8-foot sidewalk, paved parking areas and a wider roadway. The county is completing the work in three phases to limit traffic disruption, with phase 1 expected to finish in mid-July, phase 2 by the end of August and phase 3 by mid-October, the official said.

The county announced completion of the Hot-In-Place Recycling and Asphalt Overlay project on County Road 26. "The Hot in Place Recycling and Asphalt Overlay Project has now been completed," the official said, noting it was the first use of the on-site pavement recycling process in both Cass County and North Dakota. The official said the process reduced material hauling, lowered construction cost by approximately $60,000 per mile and produced a durable driving surface while minimizing environmental impacts.

County Road 4 is nearing completion, the official reported: paving operations are finished and crews will complete shoulder topsoil placement and seeding soon. That project included milling the existing roadway, widening the paved surface and replacing gravel shoulders with paved shoulders to improve safety and reduce long-term maintenance.

Construction has begun on 153rd Avenue, where crews are stabilizing the roadway by blending cement into the existing roadbed before placing a new gravel surface; the roadway remains closed to through traffic. The official said the 153rd Avenue work is funded with state flex grant dollars administered by Cass County and is expected to continue several weeks with completion anticipated in early August.

The county's annual chip seal program is also underway and expected to finish by the end of the week; motorists may encounter pilot cars while crews finish remaining segments. Several township drainage and crossing projects were reported as completed or in progress: Cornell and Tower Township structure replacements and the Hunter Township box culvert replacement are complete; Wheatland Township work is expected to finish next week; Normanna, Harmony and Raymond, Durban and Mapleton projects were described as in planning or awaiting scheduling.

The official provided details on two large bridge projects the county is planning. The Normanna Township bridge replacement has been awarded and is expected to begin later this fall; it will replace the existing span with a new 156-foot concrete box beam bridge and continue through the 2027 construction season. The Harwood Township bridge project, designed to address Red River Valley soil conditions, is planned as a 550-foot steel beam bridge; it has not been bid yet and is expected to proceed through 2027 following bidding and contract award.

The official closed the update by thanking residents and travelers for their patience and cooperation as the county continues these infrastructure improvements through the construction season.