Gov. Tim Walz and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar joined members of the Moorhead City Council and other dignitaries Saturday to officially break ground for the city’s double-dip 11th Street Underpass project. Among those wielding ceremonial shovels were Mayor Shelly Carlson; council members Laura Caroon, Larry Seljevold and Deb White; and District 4’s legislators, Sen. Rob Kupec and Rep. Heather Keeler.
Two open houses are coming up on Thursday, March 28, and April 4, for the public to learn more about plans for the project. Both are from 11 a.m. to noon at the Hjemkomst Center. Representatives of the Minnesota Department of Transportation and Ames Construction will be on hand to provide updates and answer questions.
Decades in the planning, the vehicle underpass between Main and First Avenue North will be under construction for the next three years. First Avenue closed Wednesday from 10th Street to 12th, while 11th Street was closed from Second Avenue on the north past Main Avenue. The east-west intersections will remain open to traffic, however, on Center and Main Avenues.
Detours have been set up to help drivers negotiate the construction area. Motorists will be able to cross to and from north Moorhead on 14th Street , then along Fourth Avenue to Ninth Street. East-west traffic can follow Eighth Street North to Center Avenue and over to 14th Street.
Residents can sign up for email updates and view more information about the project online at www.mndot.gov/d4/projects/moorhead11thstreetunderpass
Photo (from left): Council members Laura Caroon and Chuck Hendrickson; county commissioners Paul Krabbenhoft and David Ebinger; District 4A Rep. Heather Keeler; U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar; Mayor Shelly Carlson; Gov. Tim Walz; District 4 Sen. Rob Kupec; MnDOT commissioner Nancy Daubenberger, District 4 engineer Shiloh Wahl, and assistant engineer Justin Knopf; and Moorhead city engineer Bob Zimmerman. Photo/Caleb Fugleberg.