North Fargo route could open tonight

There’s good news for north Fargo commuters, as Elm Street could reopen tonight as work on the Ridgewood Flood Control Project winds down.

Jeremy Steigen, a senior project manager for Wanzek Construction, said the street can reopen after it is striped.

“It’s going to depend 100 percent on the weather,” he said, adding that the work could be delayed by rain.

Steigen said some dirtwork could be finished in the next few weeks, but staining of the floodwall and the construction of a sidewalk will have to wait until the weather is warm enough in the spring.

Steigen said Elm Street will have to be closed down for a day sometime in the next few weeks to fit flood closure panels one more time.

The project started in October 2008, with installation of storm sewer, said Rob Hasey, city storm sewer utility engineer.

It was originally thought Elm Street would reopen in July, but Hasey said the project was delayed until a base channel could be made and installed for the floodwall.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Helmut Schmidt at (701) 241-5583