Construction season kicks off in Fargo as 32nd Avenue project begins

FARGO — Construction season is kicking off with a bang, featuring the major reconstruction of 1.5 miles of Fargo’s 32nd Avenue South.

Work is slated to begin Monday, April 17, according to an announcement from contractors for the North Dakota Department of Transportation and the city of Fargo.

“The project will provide improvements for pedestrians, drivers, and nearby landowners and businesses by updating the existing roadway, pedestrian, and utility infrastructure,” the announcement said.

The entire project will take about 2 years and run from 32nd Street South through University Drive South.

Segment 1 will be completed in 2023 and spans between 32nd Street and 22nd Street.

Work on Segment 1 will be split up into four phases. During each phase, a section of 32nd Avenue will be closed, and a detour will be provided for motorists around the work.

Troy Becker / The Forum

The first closure will run between 25th Street and 22nd Street. Motorists can expect lane restrictions and traffic pattern adjustments between 27th Street and 25th Street. Access to 25th Street South will remain open during Phase 1.

Work on Segment 2, from 22nd Street through University Drive, is slated to begin in 2024, according to the city of Fargo's website, which indicates the 32nd Avenue South project will be finished in fall 2025.

During the course of construction, workers will downsize the existing grass and paved medians to create additional boulevard space for sidewalks and trees as they install a new, five-lane concrete roadway.

Drainage along the corridor is expected to improve with an expansion of the storm sewer system.

“The corridor access to all businesses will remain available throughout the duration of the project, and pedestrian access will be maintained on at least one side of the street and to all businesses,” the contractors' announcement said.

Those wishing to learn more about how businesses’ needs will be addressed throughout the project can request a toolkit by emailing 32ndAve@flint-group.com . For more information on the 32nd Avenue South reconstruction project, follow FargoStreets on Facebook and Twitter or visit fargond.gov/live/fargostreets.