FARGO — The far northwest part of downtown Fargo in an area filled with old and new apartment buildings, as well some historic older homes, is seeing major roadwork this summer.
There was some relief for motorists in the project area this past Friday, June 12, when Third Avenue North temporarily opened for about a four-block stretch between 10th Street and University Drive.
It will remain open for about three weeks, city civil engineer Scott Olson said.
Then when nearby work on the reconstruction of a few blocks of 11th Street North and 12th Street North is completed, Third Avenue will close again to allow crews to finish work on the avenue.
The rough road surfaces in that area are being replaced with new concrete, and Olson said the gunit or brick sanitary sewer lines that his department estimates are more than 100 years old are also being replaced with 36-inch plastic pipe.
ADVERTISEMENT
The project also involves new curb and gutter, storm sewer lines and sidewalks on the avenue and streets.
Olson said they are making a major effort to save the many mature trees that line some of the boulevards.
The effort, Olson said, is another phase in the revitalization of all parts of downtown.
In other project updates:
- SEVENTH AVENUE NORTH IN FARGO: A new section of Seventh Avenue North will close this Monday, June 15, at 7 a.m. The stretch closed will be between east of Fourth Street North to the alley west of Second Street North. The avenue is already closed from the Broadway intersection to just west of Fourth Street North. The Fourth Street North intersection remains open for north-south traffic flow and will remain so until the Broadway intersection is reopened.
The project involves a total reconstruction of the roadway and underground utilities that have deteriorated over the years. - MAIN AVENUE IN FARGO: Crews begin concrete paving operations on the avenue from Broadway to Seventh Street last Thursday. They are working to complete the underground utility work on the Eighth Street intersection. The roadway between Broadway and University Drive is completely closed to traffic.
- 17TH AVENUE SOUTH IN FARGO: A one-block stretch of the avenue will be closed through this Wednesday, June 17, for an emergency storm sewer repair. It is closed between 16th Street and 17th Street.
- 12TH AVENUE NORTH IN FARGO: The next phase of work on the 12th Avenue bridge deck over Interstate 29 will begin this Monday, June 15, at 6 a.m. when crews will shift head-to-head traffic on the newly improved deck to the north side. Work will then switch to the south side of the bridge deck, said the North Dakota Department of Transportation.
- MOORHEAD MAIN AVENUE UNDERPASS: The Moorhead City Council had an executive session last week where they discussed potential claims arising out of the schedule delay and change orders being performed as part of the $52 million project. The project completion has been delayed until next year because of embankment and soil stability issues.
This week, work will start on the next large phase of the project, with the installation of pilings near the Otter Tail Valley Railroad that runs parallel to Main Avenue. City Traffic Engineer Jon Atkins said people will notice more noise and vibrations during this phase of the work as crews will work closer to homes. - 12TH AVENUE SOUTH IN MOORHEAD: A segment of work from Fourth Street to Eighth Street near Concordia College is nearing completion. Milling will begin this week with paving to follow. The next segment of the avenue project, from Eighth Street to 11th Street, will close to traffic this Monday, June 15, for about three weeks for work on that stretch.
- SEVENTH AVENUE NORTH IN MOORHEAD: Paving on the roadway replacement project on the avenue from 14th Street to 17th Street is scheduled to be completed this week. The project will then move to the next phase from 17th Street to 20th Street.
- 20TH AVENUE SOUTH IN MOORHEAD: Moorhead Public Service's water main replacement project is continuing for the next two weeks between 14th Street and 18th Street. Once done, the work will shift to between 18th Street and 20th Street. After the water main work, Atkins said the city will follow up with a roadway rehabilitation project to repair pavement and curb in the area.
