Some Moorhead drivers are getting creative. Faced with closed lanes, slowed flow and occasional closures, the Moorhead Police Department is hearing of occasional cases of motorists taking matters into their own hands … including cutting through parking lots and private byways where through traffic has no business going.
First the good news: Lt. Tory Jacobson says that officers have not seen an increase in crashes, despite the slow-downs endemic in construction zones.
“We believe this can be credited to high-visibility signage and drivers paying more attention as they travel through these areas,” he says. “We’ve also been utilizing bike patrol officers to have an additional presence for prevention and observations.” The patrols will continue all summer.
But there’s bad news, too. “Our biggest concern has been drivers who attempt to avoid construction areas by cutting through business and private parking lots,” he reports. “We have too many complaints of vehicles traveling through the lots at Triumph Lutheran Church on 20th Street and American Crystal downtown on Center Avenue. There’s a lot of pedestrian traffic, and the higher speeds being reported putthemat risk.”
Police meet weekly with the city engineering department, sharing information and their concerns. “We’ll continue to use speed display trailers to remind drivers of their traveling speeds,” Tory predicts, “and will step up enforcements where problems may – or have already begun to – occur.”
“Everyone can see that great things are in the works in Moorhead, with improvements all over the city. We will continue to remind everyone that these temporary travel inconveniences are expected, and we’re planning for them. Localized traffic flows on neighborhood side routes will be continually evaluated for speed and volume.”
He adds, “Safety for everyone is our primary objective. If the need arises, we may have to reduce drivers’ flexibility around these areas.”
I-94 overpass to close
What many have dreaded will come to pass on Monday, when MnDOT closes the Eighth Street overpass above Interstate 94. That entails blocking off all Eighth Street traffic from 24th to 30th Avenues.
However, the westbound entrance ramp toward Fargo will remain open for the time being, as will the exit ramp from the Red River to Highway 75.
Jerimiah Moerke of MnDOT predicts, “We expect traffic will be especially difficult for the first day or two, as people navigate the closures, adjust their times and find different routes that work for them.”
The primary detour will be along 12th Avenue South, 20th Street and (south of I-94) 40th Avenue. The only entrance and exit ramps for those driving eastward will be at 34th Street.
MnDOT has three suggestions for drivers:
· Moorhead has short rush hours. If you have any flexibility in your morning/evening commute times, adjusting the time you leave by even 15 to 30 minutes may make a big difference.
· The ramp in the northwest and southwest quadrants of the interchange will remain open. These ramps will still be able to handle a lot of traffic to and from Fargo.
· Please be patient and drive safely. A crash will only make the congestion worse.
