The full picture · 2 sources
Bismarck tests an all way stop at 5th Street and Front Avenue in place of a traffic signal
Updated Nov 2, 4:07 PM CT. Every fact below links to the source that reported it.
What the primary sources show
- The city's trial replacing the traffic signal with an all way stop at 5th Street and Front Avenue was scheduled to start Tuesday, October 27, 2026. [Bismarck Source]
- The trial is expected to last several months. [KFYR-TV] [Bismarck Source]
- The signal was installed in 1978, and City Traffic Engineer Chris Holzer said it has run well past the usual 30 to 40 year lifespan for such equipment. [Bismarck Source]
- According to the city, traffic volume at the intersection does not meet federal criteria for a traffic signal. [KFYR-TV] [Bismarck Source]
- A city study found an all way stop would shorten vehicle lines and reduce wait times compared with the current signal. [KFYR-TV] [Bismarck Source]
- During the trial, the city will review crashes in the trial zone and work with BNSF Railroad to watch for southbound vehicles backing up onto the tracks just north of the intersection. [Bismarck Source]
What they left out / still unanswered
- If the trial shows southbound backups onto the tracks, which alternative will the city choose, and when would that decision be made?
- Will the city replace or remove the signal as part of the 2027 road project, and what would either option cost? Neither source says.
- What exact end date and crash results will the city publish when the trial ends? The sources say only several months and crash review.
Official line vs. how each source framed it
- KFYR-TV: KFYR framed the change as a driver-facing test and said the city must replace or remove the aging signal, but it gave no trial start date, cited only unnamed city engineers, and said the road project is next year where the city's official statement gives 2027. Read it → · Ads
- Bismarck Source: Bismarck Source relayed the City's News Flash and quoted Traffic Engineer Chris Holzer for the October 27 start date, the 1978 install, the 30 to 40 year lifespan, the 2027 road project, and the rail crossing monitoring plan, including alternatives like stop signs on east and west traffic only if backups occur. 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