MANDAN, ND ( KXNET ) — Park workers say they’re excited to see work begin soon on a new boat ramp on the west side of the Missouri River.

This week, contractors Prairie View Excavating and Edling Electric were awarded bids for their part to start the site work on a new boat ramp at the Missouri River Natural Area, also known as Car Bodies. Prairie View had the winning bid with $1,079,683 and Edling Electric will be paid $49,500.

The Mandan Park Board approved the bids, but $800,000 of the project is being paid for with a grant from North Dakota State Parks.

Mandan Parks Director Cole Higlin says he expects work to begin after Labor Day.

“We still want to keep it primitive, we like how it is down here, kind of like you’re in a rural area, but yet you’re within city limits. People still, we don’t want to impact the north side of this property, in regards to the residents, but then the south side of the property, we’ll still make sure they can run their dogs, ride their mountain bikes, walk around see the nature, the birds the animals that kind of go along with it, and just keep it shore fishing as it has been today,” said Higlin.

Right now, Mandan has three private boat ramps, but this would be the first public ramp open to boaters.

The total cost of the project is $1.6 million. Higlin expects the ramp will be finished by Memorial Day 2025.

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