Last weekend I had this interesting idea pop into my head about inventing a computer game based on the traffic snarls and confusion in the Fargo Moorhead area during this massive road construction season.

For example: Let’s say you live in North Fargo and you have a wedding to attend in Moorhead. Then after the wedding you have the reception that will be held at one of our grand hotels, say… in the West Acres area. The wedding is at 2:30 and you’re out the door at 2 o’clock. Plenty of time to get to the church, right? Carefully, you head downtown on Broadway. OOPS! Street Fair so can’t go through there. So, maybe go on University? But I would be slowed down by the construction on 19th Avenue North. Now, you know that 2nd St. would have been your best bet. See how much fun this could be trying to figure this all out?

Maybe you could have gone across the North Broadway Bridge and came around on Wall Street, then turn on 11th St. and drive into Moorhead that way. WAIT!!! Detour on 11th at the Sugar Beet Plant. Detour to Highway 75 and back on 15th Ave. to 11th. But there’s more! Highway 75 (your detour) also has construction and down to one lane. You’ll have to wait your turn to get by.

Thank goodness you’re back on 11th St in Moorhead and heading for the church. Oh no, you can’t get across the railroad tracks between 1st and Center Avenues. Detour again! The couple will celebrate their 1st wedding anniversary by the time you arrive.

I would also throw into this game some bad drivers or those who think they belong on a Nascar track or even Hollywood stuntmen. Put a few of those guys weaving in and out of traffic on the Interstate. Those cars that speed past in the closed lane because they know some little old lady will let them cut in while the rest of us sit and wait our turn.

As part of my job at KFGO I am the traffic reporter in the afternoons. I hear on my police scanner plenty of times of drivers calling into the police to report bad driving, kids not buckled in or no taillights. This day and age everybody has a cell phone and people will use them to call the police to let them know about those violations. I’ve heard it thousands of times.

So, mix all that together and I think you’d have a fantastic game on your hands.

By the way, if you somehow market a game like this, please include this line on the box:

Game based on a fantastic idea from Bob Harris. Drive safe!