Southwest Metro Improvement Projects
The North Dakota Department of Transportation Fargo District (NDDOT), Cass County, City of Fargo and City of West Fargo have improvement projects stretching from the I-94 interchange in West Fargo to the County Road 17/76th Avenue roundabout in 2019. This communication channel shares progress updates and roadway access changes for all these adjacent southwest metro work zones in eastern North Dakota.
The Southwest Metro Work Zone project teams held biweekly public information meetings to answer questions on all of these projects every other Friday, 9 to 9:30 a.m.
Select a Zone:
West Fargo - Sheyenne Street Segment 2
Work Zone Limits:
Beaton Drive to 32nd Avenue South
Open:
- Sheyenne Street is open to three lanes of traffic in each direction throughout the entire project limits, including the use of both Sheyenne Diversion channel bridges.
Project Background:
- Segment 2, began in 2018, converted a two-lane rural roadway to a six-lane urban section with raised median, offset turn lanes, a second bridge over the Sheyenne Diversion Channel, and traffic signals at major intersections from Beaton Drive to 32nd Avenue W. A pedestrian multiuse path connects from the interchange to 32nd Avenue W. and is carried on both sides of Sheyenne Street south of 26th Avenue W. A pedestrian tunnel was also constructed under Sheyenne Street on the northside of the intersection to increase safety, walkability and connect the neighborhoods.
West Fargo - Sheyenne Street Segment 3
Work Zone Limits
32nd Avenue West to 40th Avenue West
Open:
- Sheyenne Street is fully open to traffic between 32nd Avenue W. though 40th Avenue W.
Project Background:
- Segment 3, began in 2019, converted a rural two-lane roadway to a four-lane urban section with a raised median and offset left-turn lane from 32nd Avenue W. to past 40th Avenue W. A traffic signal was added at 38th Avenue W. and Sheyenne Street intersection. A pedestrian multiuse path was added on both sides of Sheyenne Street and improved street lighting added throughout the corridor.
Fargo - 52nd Avenue South
Work Zone Limits:
45th Street South to 63rd Street South
Open
- Two westbound and eastbound driving lanes between 45th Street South and Veterans Blvd
- Single westbound and eastbound driving lane between Veterans Blvds and west of 63rd Street South intersection
- All intersections are open and in use
- Pedestrian crossings at 63rd St S, Veterans Blvd, and 45th St S intersections
Closed
- Single westbound and eastbound driving lane closures between Veterans Blvds and west of 63rd Street South intersection
RCUT Intersections
Motorists will notice a new intersection design at three intersections along 52nd Ave S. The intersections of 47th St S, 53rd St S, and 53rd Ave S all operate as RCUT (Restricted Crossing U-Turn) intersections to better assist drivers with crossing multiple lanes of the widened roadway.
RCUT intersection changes a traditional four-way stop intersection into a right-in and right-out intersection. When using an RCUT intersection motorists approaching divided highways from a side road are not allowed to make left turns or cross over traffic; instead, they are guided to take an right-hand turn onto 52nd Ave S and then make a U-turn at a designated median opening to continue travel.
Benefits of an RCUT intersection:
- Eliminates dangerous left-turn and cross traffic movements (T-Bone)
- Offers a well-defined access to the arterial roadway
- Cost effective and safe solution for smaller intersections that don’t qualify for a signal system
The intersections of 63rd St S, Veterans Blvd, and 45th St S will all be signalized intersections.
NDDOT - I-94 & Sheyenne Street Interchange
Work Zone Limits
I-94 – half mile east and west around Sheyenne Street Interchange
Open
- Interstate 94 traffic is currently two lanes in each direction.
- All interchange ramps are open for entering and exiting interstate traffic.
- Open to three lanes of Sheyenne Street traffic in each direction between 32nd Avenue W. to Beaton Drive, including the use of both Sheyenne Diversion channel bridges.
Project Background:
- I-94 and Sheyenne Street Interchange, began in 2018, reconstructed two bridges over Sheyenne Street, converted a two-lane rural roadway to a six-lane urban section under the bridges and built a modified single point urban interchange design. A first for North Dakota, this design moves double lanes of Sheyenne Street traffic through one stoplight in the middle of the interchange and widen ramp connections for increased capacity. Pedestrian connectivity to the city facilities north and south of the interchange were also a large priority for the project work.
Progress Report
- All permanent ramps are in use.
Cass County - CR 17/76th Avenue South Intersection
Work Zone Limits
Cass County Road 17 (CR 17) and 76th Ave S/CR 6 intersection along with a small section of 76th Avenue South just north of the new elementary school.
Open
- On Saturday, August 17, crews opened the new Country Road 17 and 76th Avenue South roundabout in the evening. Motorists are no longer detoured to 81st Street South and through access on Country Road 17 has been restored in all directions. Speeds through the roundabout will be posted at 25 mph.
- The new intersection design is an one and a half lane roundabout. This means there is an single traffic lane around the whole roundabout with extra turning lanes on both of the east side corners of the roundabout to keep northbound and eastbound in a continuous traffic flow.
Guide to Driving a Roundabout
Project Timelines
- County Road 17 & 76th Avenue South Roundabout: OPEN
- 76th Avenue South: OPEN