North Dakota Water May 2005

• Year: 2005
• Title: North Dakota Water
• Author: North Dakota Water
• Description: May 2005
• Publications - Doc Type: Other

Highway 20
By Patrick Fridgen
temporarily
On March 29, the
North Dakota Department
of Transportation closed
Highway 20 along the south
shore of Devils Lake (near
St. Michael) due to seepage
that was occurring through
the roadbed. State officials
were alerted of the prob-
lem by a local individual
who reported seeing water
flowing from the base of the
roadbed. In addition, it was
possible to see areas where
the flowing water had actu-
ally eroded a path through
the ice on the downstream side of the
road (see photo).
closed due to seepage from Devils Lake
Once state officials observed the
situation more closely, the highway
was closed, and traffic was diverted
to alternative routes. This precaution
was taken because it was not immedi-
ately clear how extensive the seepage
problem was and how it had affected
the integrity of the roadway.
The issue of roads acting as dams
has been a major concern of local
residents and government officials for
more than five years — particularly in
this area. Where the seepage problem
was found along Highway 20, the
water on the lakeside of the highway
is about 11.5 feet higher than the
water on the other side. The reason
this poses such a serious problem is
because the roads in the area acting
as dams are not designed or built to
serve that purpose. As Devils Lake
began its rapid rise, roads were
quickly raised to maintain transporta-
tion corridors throughout the area. As
a result, many are now holding back
water and acting as dams — a function
they are not designed to serve.
Should Highway 20 ever breach
under the pressure of rising Dev-
ils Lake floodwater, it is estimated
that 30 homes and families would
be directly impacted downstream.
During the time of the road closure,
30 rooms were reserved at the Spirit
Lake Casino Hotel in case the fami-
lies needed to be evacuated.
After extensive monitoring, which
included test drilling along the base
of the roadbed, it was determined
that Highway 20 was safe, and it was
reopened for travel on April 1. The
roadway continues to remain open
for travel, but it is under
frequent observation.
The Department of
Transportation, in con-
sultation with other state
agencies, has been consid-
ering several alternatives
to repair the problem. At
the time this article was
written, it is anticipated
that the most viable op-
tion is to build a seepage
and stability berm on the
downstream side of the
road embankment. This
will essentially amount
to the installation of fill
and a collection pipe that will more
safely divert the seepage away from
the roadbed.
As far as the cause of the prob-
lem, it is speculated that the seep-
age may have occurred in an area
that previously contained a culvert
through the old roadway. However,
this has yet to be confirmed. Efforts
are underway to locate and fill any
buried culverts in the roadway.
SWC employee Kurt Kunz will be missed
The water community lost a dear
friend and colleague when Kurt
Kunz died from injuries sustained in
a car accident
on April 3.
Kurt had
been employed
with the Water
Commission
since 1982,
where he was
an Engineer-
ing Tech III
in the Water
Development
Division. With the nature of Kurt's
position, he was constantly serving
as an agency point of contact with
the general public, contractors, and
land surveyors. Kurt was responsible
for all the original survey notes, GLO
plats, and provided various types of
surveying information to anyone who
made requests to the Commission. In
addition, Kurt used his computer and
technological skills to also serve as a
draftsman for the Commission.
In his time away from the office,
Kurt loved the outdoors, where he
often went hunting, fishing, and ATV
riding. He was also an avid Native
American artifact collector.
Kurt's good humor and smiling
face will be dearly missed at the Wa-
ter Commission.
North Dakota Water ■ May 2005 17