12th Avenue North lane reductions begin today in Fargo

Starting this week, the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) contractors will begin the first phase of project work for the 12th Avenue North and I-29 bridge deck overlay. Crews will close the inside lanes on 12th Avenue North between Aggregate Industries Drive to Daisy Lane. The lane reductions will allow crews to begin removals on the raised medians.

After 6 a.m. today, motorists can expect the following traffic impacts on 12th Avenue between Aggregate Industries Drive to Daisy Lane:

• OPEN: Single lane in each direction carried in the outside lanes
• CLOSED: Single inside lane closure in each direction
• Speeds will be reduced to 25 mph where traffic control is present

Motorists will stay in this traffic pattern for about one week. As project work progresses, crews will then move into the next phase and shift traffic head-to-head on the south side of the bridge to begin work on the bridge deck overlay and concrete pavement repair (CPR) on the north side.

The bridge deck overlay is a preventative maintenance to expand the life of the bridge and improve ride quality. If left untreated, the bridge deck is susceptible to spalling, which is when the top layer of the deck concrete becomes loose. The bridge rehabilitation work is expected to be complete by October.

Project work will be split into multiple phases to maintain access for thru traffic. The traffic impacts for the phase work will include:

• Phase One: Traffic will remain on their respective sides with a single inside lane closure in each direction for removal of the raised medians
• Phase Two: Traffic will be shifted to the south side of the bridge for bridge deck overlay and CPR work on the north side
• Phase Three: Traffic will be shifted head-to-head on the north side of the bridge for bridge deck overlay and CPR work on the south side
• Phase Four: Traffic will be shifted back to their respective sides with a single inside lane closure in each direction for construction of the median pavement and raised median islands

The NDDOT urges motorists to always be attentive, drive with caution and never enter a road blocked with barriers or cones stating, “road closed.”