West Fargo City Engineer(s),

As shown in the aerial view, there is a beautiful and highly used walking path that runs along East Beaton road all the way from Veteran’s Boulevard to Bobcat. Unfortunately, the walking path ends abruptly and does not continue along West Beaton Dr to Sheyenne Street. This results in some dangerous situations that could easily be resolved by continuing the walking path all the way to Sheyenne Street.

Residents of this area have personally experienced or witnessed the following:

1. Audrey Winje, 142 W Beaton Dr, states “Our family personally enjoys bike riding, rollerblading and walks on a regular basis and we utilize Beaton road almost daily. Unfortunately, our two boys have nearly been hit by cars on multiple occasions due to the fact there is no sidewalk or “safe” place where they can be. Cars tend to drive faster on this stretch and there is no shoulder. It has been very stressful for me to keep my children safe.“
2. Due to the curves and narrowness of W Beaton Dr, residents of this area cautiously proceed through that stretch of road to avoid the numerous pedestrians, joggers and bikers travelling to or from Sheyenne St. There is a growing concern that those unfamiliar with the area will not be as vigilant, which could result in an unfortunate accident. We encourage you to personally drive through this area to experience it for yourself. This concern has been further heightened by the additional distractions resulting from the recent construction project.
3. The amount of pedestrian traffic is reasonably high through this area, and it has become a popular walking and jogging route for numerous residents in West Fargo. Vehicle traffic is also high since various businesses in the area draw traffic. As the new Hornbacher’s and Holiday Station open, it is expected that the vehicle traffic will further increase since Beaton Road provides easy access between Veteran’s and Sheyenne. All of this will further exacerbate the concerns outlined above.

We urge you to consider alleviating these problems by completing the walking path on W Beaton Drive so it connects with Sheyenne Street. This will benefit all the residents of West Fargo that regularly walk, run or bike around “the loop” shown.