The full picture · 2 sources
Bismarck tests an all way stop in place of the traffic signal at Fifth Street and Front Avenue
Updated Nov 3, 5:37 AM CT. Every fact below links to the source that reported it.
What the primary sources show
- The city will replace the traffic signal at Fifth Street and Front Avenue with an all way stop for a trial lasting several months. [KFYR-TV] [Bismarck Source]
- The trial starts Tuesday, October 27, 2026. [Bismarck Source]
- Holzer said traffic volume does not meet federal criteria for a signal, and a city study found an all way stop would mean shorter lines and less wait time for drivers. [Bismarck Source] [KFYR-TV]
- A road project planned for 2027 will affect Front Avenue and 5th Street, and the city must either replace or remove the signal as part of it. [Bismarck Source] [KFYR-TV]
- During the trial, the city will review any crashes in the trial zone and work with BNSF Railroad to watch for southbound vehicles backing up from Front Avenue onto the tracks. [Bismarck Source] [KFYR-TV]
- If backups onto the tracks occur, the city will consider other options, such as free flowing north and south traffic with stop signs controlling only east and west traffic. [Bismarck Source]
What they left out / still unanswered
- How many months will the trial run, and when will it end?
- How much backup onto the railroad tracks would trigger the city to consider the alternative plan?
- Has the city decided whether to replace or remove the signal as part of the 2027 road project?
Official line vs. how each source framed it
- KFYR-TV: KFYR framed it as a change drivers may notice, gave a general overview, and attributed comments to unnamed city engineers, but did not give a start date or the signal's lifespan figure. Read it → · Ads
- Bismarck Source: Bismarck Source framed it around on the record comments from City Traffic Engineer Chris Holzer, adding the October 27, 2026 start date, the 30 to 40 year lifespan figure, and the city's plan to switch options if railroad 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