NDDOT to replace automatic traffic recording system

Contractors for the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) Fargo District will be maintaining or replacing parts of the Automatic Traffic Recording (ATR) system in three southbound Interstate 29 (I-29) driving lanes near 19th Avenue North, along with three westbound and one eastbound Interstate 94 (I-94) driving lanes between University Drive and 8th Street South. Work will begin at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, October 3and is slated to be complete by 7:00 a.m. Friday, October 4.

The I-29 southbound project work will at times require double, shifting lanes closure across two driving lanes in the southbound direction. Work is anticipated to take three hours from set-up to completion. All three southbound driving lanes are scheduled to be restored to drivers by 9:00 p.m. Thursday evening.

Traffic control will begin to be set-up on southbound I-29 at 6:00 p.m. Thursday and the slated work schedule will be:

• Initial lane closure: left lane closure starting north of the southbound 19th Avenue North off-ramp through south of the bridge.
  • Contractors will be working in the inside lane
• Next double lane closure: right lane closure between southbound off-ramp and through south of the bridge. Traffic will only be carried in the inside lane through the work area.
  • 19th Avenue southbound on-ramp traffic will merge with thru traffic instead of entering the interstate with added lane
  • Contractors will be working in the outside and middle lanes

The I-94 westbound and eastbound project work will also require shifting lanes closures. Work is anticipated to take six hours for westbound work and five hours for eastbound work from set-up to completion. All I-94 driving lanes will be restored to drivers by 7:00 a.m. Friday morning.

Traffic control will begin to be set-up on westbound I-94 at 8:30 p.m. Thursday and the slated work schedule will be:

• Initial lane closure: 8th Street on-ramp acceleration lane closure.
  • On-ramp traffic will merge with thru traffic instead of entering the interstate with an added lane
  • Contractors will be working in the added lane
• Next double lane closure: right lane closure between 8th Street ramps. Traffic will only be carried in the far left lane through the work area.
  • Contractors will be working in the outside and middle lanes
• Third impact: left lane closure between the 8th Street ramps. Traffic will only be carried in the two right lanes through the work area.
  • Contractors will be working in the inside lane

Traffic control will begin to be set-up on eastbound I-94 around 2:00 a.m. Friday and the slated work schedule will be:

• Initial lane closure: right lane closure between University Drive and the Red River bridge.
  • Contractors will be working west of the bridge

Speeds will be reduced on I-29 and I-94 to 40 mph. The project work is weather dependent, and rain will delay the project to replace the daily traffic counts sensors.

The traffic count data is used for a variety of purposes to support transport planning and design considerations.

Southbound I-29 traffic counts:

• Current traffic counts 25,465 cars and trucks per day

Eastbound I-94 traffic counts:

• Current traffic counts 39,198 cars and trucks per day

Westbound I-94 traffic counts:

• Current traffic counts 40,169 cars and trucks per day

Motorists should plan ahead and allow extra time for travel. Motorists are asked to minimize their distractions, slow down and be patient in the work area.