Interstate 29 reopens between Fargo, Grand Forks

Interstate 29 reopened during the noon hour between Grand Forks and Fargo, the North Dakota Department of Transportation said.

I-94 between Fargo and Jamestown also has reopened.

The North Dakota Highway Patrol closed the stretch of I-29 more than 12 hours earlier this morning. The roadway was blocked in many areas by blowing snow and stranded vehicles as heavy wet snow and strong winds have formed large drifts.

No-travel advisories throughout the state also have been lifted, though the state Department of Transportation and the Highway Patrol have continued a statewide travel alert to urge caution by motorists.

U.S. Highway 2 between Minot and Rugby was reopened at about 10 a.m. by the North Dakota Department of Transportation and the North Dakota Highway Patrol.

U.S. Highway 83 also was reopened between Bismarck and Minot.

National Weather Service reports show more than a foot of heavy, wet snow in some areas, notably in North Dakota's Traill County and Minnesota's Norman County.

Traill County dispatcher Dorothea Tufte said semitrailers were among the vehicles that got stuck on I-29 between Fargo and Grand Forks before it closed early this morning. Wreckers were able to reach the semis and pull them out, she said.

A Traill County deputy who left Mayville to help a stranded motorist on Highway 200 near I-29 had to turn around because the highway was covered in snow 2 feet deep, Tufte said. A wrecker eventually reached the motorist.

Fargo-Moorhead received about 8 to 12 inches of snow. Plows were keeping main thoroughfares clear, but driving on residential streets was a challenge.

U.S. Highway 2 was upgraded to fair driving conditions between East Grand Forks and Crookston, but was still listed as "difficult" between Crookston and just west of Grand Rapids early this afternoon, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation website.

U.S. Highways 75 and 59 were listed as "difficult" from south of Highway 2 to I-94 in northwestern Minnesota.

The article includes material from The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead and The Associated Press.

Tags: winter storms, news, updates, weather, roads, travel, transportation