The moment south Moorhead drivers have been dreading arrived early Tuesday, when the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s contractors sealed off the Eighth Street overpass above Interstate 94.
Law enforcement – both the Minnesota Highway Patrol and Moorhead Police Department – were keeping a close watch as north- and southbound drivers scrambled to find new routes around the busy major thoroughfare. Though detours are clearly marked, many motorists still reacted with surprise to the need to vary their everyday routes … some trying to back up or cut across the median.
The overpass, part of Highway 75, is expected to remain closed until late August. By that time, MnDOT officials predict that the completely redesigned interchange will be largely ready to handle back-to-school traffic.
Traffic on Interstate 94 itself has been narrowed to a single lane at times, as construction workers continue work on new third lanes in each direction … a measure expected to ease congestion as rerouted traffic enters and exits the city on Exit 1B at 20th Street South. The lanes will be paved overnight over the course of three days next week.
All through traffic will detour via 20th Street South, crossing over at 40th and 12th Avenues South.
The ramps on the east side of the overpass will also be closed through early July. Drivers accustomed to using the Eighth Street connections need to shift their comings and goings to Exit 1B half a mile farther east, using the ramps near M-State.
In the meantime, though, drivers going to Fargo or coming into Moorhead from the west can continue to use the existing Exit 1A ramps – those on the west side of the overpass. But don’t take that route for granted! When the eastside ramps are completed in July, crews will shift to those to the west.
MnDOT anticipates major congestion during the peak hours, particularly near the I-94/20th Street interchange. They encourage motorists to seek alternate routes, expect delays and adjust their commute start and end times to avoid the greatest congestion.
