The full picture · 2 sources
Bismarck tests all way stop at 5th Street and Front Avenue
Updated Nov 2, 1:07 PM CT. Every fact below links to the source that reported it.
What the primary sources show
- The City of Bismarck is testing an all way stop in place of the traffic signal at 5th Street and Front Avenue. [KFYR-TV] [Bismarck Source]
- The trial starts Tuesday, October 27, 2026, and will last several months. [Bismarck Source]
- The signal was installed in 1978. City Traffic Engineer Chris Holzer said signals of this kind are usually expected to last 30 to 40 years. [Bismarck Source]
- City engineers said traffic volume at the intersection does not meet federal criteria for a traffic signal. [KFYR-TV] [Bismarck Source]
- A study of the intersection found an all way stop would reduce wait times and vehicle backups. [KFYR-TV] [Bismarck Source]
- Road construction is planned for next year, 2027, on Front Avenue and 5th Street, and the city must either replace the signal or remove it at that point. [KFYR-TV] [Bismarck Source]
- During the trial, the city will review crashes in the trial zone and work with BNSF Railroad to watch whether southbound traffic backs up from Front Avenue onto the tracks just north of the intersection. [KFYR-TV] [Bismarck Source]
What they left out / still unanswered
- How long will the trial run? Sources say only several months, with no end date.
- What will the city do if southbound backups onto the BNSF tracks are observed? Stop signs on only the east and west approaches are an option, but no final choice has been announced.
- What will the 2027 road project cost, and what will the permanent intersection design be? No cost figures or final design were given.
Official line vs. how each source framed it
- KFYR-TV: KFYR framed the change as a driver-facing trial with the permanent decision tied to next year's road project, and added that the city is coordinating with BNSF to keep traffic from backing onto the railroad tracks. Read it → · Ads
- Bismarck Source: The Bismarck Source relayed the City's official position through Traffic Engineer Chris Holzer, adding the October 27, 2026 start date, the 30 to 40 year typical signal life, and the fallback of stop signs on only the east and west approaches if backups onto the tracks are seen. Read it →
701 News writes these summaries from the sources above and checks every sentence against them. Read the originals for the full reporting. Corrections