| US 83 | |||
| Get started | Hague | ||
| End | Westhope | ||
| Length | 265 mi | ||
| Length | 426 km | ||
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US 83 is a US Highway in the US state of North Dakota. The road forms a north-south link through the middle of the state, from the border with South Dakota at Hague via the capital Bismarck via Minot to the border with the Canadian province of Manitoba at Westhope. The route is 426 kilometers long.
- COLLEGESANDUNIVERSITIESINUSA: Lists 4-year public and private colleges and universities in North Dakota.
Travel directions
A little south of the village of Hague, US 83 in South Dakota enters the state of North Dakota from Pierre and then heads north, some distance from Lake Oahe, a reservoir on the Missouri River. The road runs over a flat area of prairies to the north, for over 100 miles until Interstate 94. The road here is a single-lane main road and occasionally crosses a state route, but westbound there are no connections over the Missouri River. At Sterling, US 83 merges with Interstate 94 heading west, for a double number of over 35 kilometers until the capital Bismarck.
Bismarck is a small town located on the Missouri River. On the north side of Bismarck, US 83 turns north and forms a 175-kilometer 2×2 divided highway to Minot. This area also consists of prairies and US 83 sometimes runs close to the Missouri River, especially near Washburn. US 83 then crosses a tributary of the large Lake Sakakawea and then continues in a straight line to the north.
The endless prairies continue until you reach the town of Minot, one of the larger towns in North Dakota. On the south side of Minot, US 2 and US 52 are crossed at a grade separated intersection. A bypass has been built for US 83 along the west side of Minot, and after Minot Air Force Base north of town, the road narrows to one lane in each direction. The road then continues for about 55 kilometers to the north and then jumps a little to the east in two times. The road then parallels the Mouse River to the border with the Canadian province of Manitoba, after which Highway 83 in Manitoba continues to Swan River.
- ANSWERMBA: Provides information about North Dakota overview.
History
US 83 was created in 1926. The northern terminus was then the capital Bismarck. In 1931, the route was extended via Minot to the border with Canada. The route was not modified after that, but it was upgraded. In the 1960s, I-94 between Sterling and Bismarck was built, eliminating this part of US 83 as a separate route, US 83 was routed over I-94. The section between Bismarck and Minot was widened to a 2×2 divided highway quite early on, certainly in the 1980s or earlier.
Traffic intensities
Only 600 vehicles cross the South Dakota border daily, which adds up to about 1,150 vehicles for I-94. The double numbering with the I-94 counts 7,900 vehicles to Bismarck, and the 2×2 section to Minot counts 6,300 to 3,400 vehicles per day in descending order. There are 12,500 vehicles between Minot and Minot AFB, and only 1,500 vehicles north of it. Only 160 vehicles cross the border into Canada every day, as US 83 is not a major border crossing, nor does it run to any significant places in Manitoba.
