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– The North Dakota Department of Transportation and Apex Engineering Group held a public meeting in Gackle on Tuesday night to discuss options to alleviate flooding of Highway 46 about four miles east of the city.

A large slough covered the roadway with water this spring, prompting temporary work to keep the road open. The NDDOT is looking for a permanent solution to the problem.

Matt Kinsella, project manager for Apex Engineering, said two alternatives were presented by the firm at the meeting: raising the grade of the road about 11 feet, which would be above the slough’s overflow level; or realigning the road to the south of the slough.

He said the public also expressed interest Tuesday in draining the slough.

Kinsella said they hope to identify which alternative to pursue soon, and work could start sometime in the spring. He said it’s likely the road will go under water again in the spring following the snow melt.