Traffic changes at First Avenue and Eighth Street intersection in Moorhead start Sept. 3
DETROIT LAKES, Minn. – Starting Tuesday, Sept. 3, through mid-October, motorists in Moorhead will encounter additional closures and traffic changes near the intersection of First Avenue and Eighth Street, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The closures are part of the work on the 11th Street underpass project, as crews begin installing and connecting the storm sewer pipe from W.H. Davy-Memorial Park to the future lift station at First Avenue and 11th Street.
The storm sewer work will be done over two phases, each lasting approximately three weeks, weather permitting:
- Phase 1: First Avenue to close just west of Eighth Street. Traffic will be detoured to Center Avenue and Seventh Street.
- Phase 2: First Avenue closes between Eighth Street and Ninth Street. The detour to/from northern Moorhead will switch from Ninth Street to Eighth Street, and traffic will be directed to Seventh Street to cross the railroad tracks.
When phase two of the storm sewer work is completed, First Avenue will remain closed east of Eighth Street to 12th Street. The new detour will follow Eighth Street, Second Avenue North and 14th Street.
For more information and to sign up for project progress emails, visit the project website. The public is also invited to upcoming in-person updates on Wednesday, Sept. 11 and Tuesday, Oct. 1, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., at the Hjemkomst Center, 202 1st Ave N in Moorhead. These meetings are held monthly to provide progress updates and to answer questions from residents or businesses. If you need an ASL, a foreign language interpreter, or documents in an alternative format, please contact Janet Miller at 651-366-4720 (711 or 1-800-627-3529 for MN Relay). If you need any other reasonable accommodation to participate, please email your request to ADArequest.dot@state.mn.us.
The 11th Street underpass project includes two grade separations of 11th Street under the BNSF rail lines, as well as paving, sidewalk improvements, utility replacements and signals. The project will provide safety and mobility benefits by removing blockages caused by heavy rail traffic. The work is being completed in stages through November 2026.
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