​City of Fargo plans summer street improvement projects

32nd Avenue improvements, wastewater removal, buffered bike lanes and street light projects are all on the agenda for Fargo – coming to a neighborhood near you soon. In fact, the corridor on 32nd Avenue South has already begun construction.

Tom Knakmuhs, Division Engineer of Design and Construction for the City of Fargo, says that the 32nd Avenue project – which extends from 42nd Street S to 32nd Street South - will include widening of the bridge, improving pavement conditions, and widening to three lanes of traffic each direction. It is being done because of congestion: “our traffic projections say that it was only going to get worse.”

Knakmuhs says that all of the front-facing properties and businesses along the corridor have been contacted and that one lane of traffic will be open throughout the project. Regardless, Knakmuhs explains, “There will always be a way to get to those businesses.” Those businesses include The Flying J, Love’s Travel Stop, Thermo King, Thomsen Homes, Fargo Tractor, Saint Sophie’s, Bank of the West, Alerus and Cass County Electric and Essentia Health Hospital and Clinic

According to a document from the City of Fargo, drivers, residents and businesses will “most likely experience temporary traffic delays during peak travel hours (7 am – 9 am and 4 pm – 6 pm). The project is expected to be substantially complete by October 2017.

Knakmuhs says that the added value once the project is complete is that it will be “safer, more pedestrian-friendly” and that it will “move people through more quickly.” It also includes improvements for pedestrians and bicyclists with a box culvert, grade-separated crossing. They also will address the very wide entrance to the Flying J, to reduce the crossing width and make it safer for walking and biking traffic.

A box culvert is a box-shaped concrete tunnel under a street, so that bikes and pedestrians can cross under a street without going through cross traffic, and this is called “grade-separated.”

Other summer projects will include a focus on downtown Fargo -- a new “force main” (which brings water waste to the treatment center) that will move this waste from the Downtown YMCA to 35th Ave N. This is being funded by a Hazardous Mitigation Grant Program grant. This project will also include new infrastructure, sidewalks, and a bike lane on 4th Street from the YMCA to Main.

There will also be a project to improve the water main and street on 7th Street on the west side of Island Park. They are also working with the Fargo Park District to create a walkway on the east side of 7th Street by the swimming pool. Knakmuhs says if the trees there have to be removed, they will replace them.

Also downtown, they are making the 2nd Avenue walkway in front of the Post Office and the new Roberts Street ramp more pedestrian and bike friendly with a buffered bike lane (creates a buffer between vehicles and the bicycles).

On the north side of Fargo, 19th Avenue North from the I-29 west ramps to 57th street will be what Knakmuhs calls “urbanized,” which means this largely rural road will have curbs, gutters, and street lights added, along with a 10 foot bike path on the south side.

Also, on Broadway North between 12th Avenue and 19th Avenue, the city will be reconstructing the street. According to Knakmuhs, the pavement there is “about sixty years old and in poor condition.” As part of the project they will be updating ADA ramps and addressing sidewalk issues.

An ADA ramp is a ramp between the street and the sidewalk that is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, so that people in wheelchairs can get around better.

The city is also planning a new pedestrian bridge near Oak Grove, similar to the one between Lindenwood Park and Gooseberry Park. Knakmuhs says that they are working with the City of Moorhead on this and that it will involve funds from the North Dakota Department of Transportation, the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the City of Fargo.

In general, there are also a large number of street light projects planned throughout the city.

Knakmuhs also pointed out the recent improvements on 2nd Street North. He says, “We now have a 6 foot pedestrian path on one side and an 8 foot on the other. This is a great improvement for pedestrians.” They are also working on a seeding and planting project and intend to paint the floodwall. The flood wall by the river has also been equipped to accommodate an anticipated and hopeful pedestrian bridge over 2nd Street which will “better connect our downtown with the river corridor.”

Knakmuhs points to the web site http://www.fargoinfocus.org/ for more information about the future plans for infrastructure development in downtown Fargo. To stay up-to-date on all road, utility, and flood mitigation improvement projects, visit FargoStreets.com for progress reports and an interactive map to show you where crews are active.

“The amount of activity from an infrastructure and road improvement standpoint is a sign of progress and speaks to our city’s growth,” continued Knakmuhs. “All the years of planning together with short-term inconvenience will result in a very accessible city whether you’re moving through on foot by bike or a motor-vehicle today.”