Flood warning issued for region; I-29 closed Fargo-Hillsboro

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks issued a flood warning this afternoon for eastern and central North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. Emergency management officials and highway department leaders say many township and county roads across the region are closed because of high water.

The North Dakota Department of Transportation said that Interstate 29 from exit 69 at Cass County Road 20 on the north side of Fargo for 31 miles to exit 100 at state Highway 200 three miles south of Hillsboro will be closed at 6 p.m. because of water on the road.

And rising rivers during a rainy day means local flood conditions could change quickly, especially near rivers and streams. Rainfall totals mostly of a quarter inch or less are expected in areas north of Grand Forks, while areas near Fargo and south will get a half inch to three-quarters of an inch, with some areas receiving 1 inch or more before the rain ends late tonight. Seven miles east of Wyndmere, N.D., south of Fargo, hail fell at 10:55 a.m. Sunday, from 0.4 inch to 0.5 inch in diameter, covering the ground, according to the weather service.

Areas near Grand Forks, East Grand Forks and Crookston, as well as near Grafton, N.D., and in Minnesota, near Ada, Argyle and Fertile will see flooding, the weather service said.

Many other areas in southeast North Dakota and northwest Minnesota will experience flooding, too.

Drivers should use caution, especially after dark, and avoid any roads with water across them, officials said.

Parts of state highways and intersate highways also are under water, most noticeably Interstate 29 just north of Fargo.

Detours in place as of 5 p.m.:

* Northbound I-29 traffic will be detoured west on I-94 at Fargo (Exit 63B) to ND Highway 18 at Casselton (Exit 331); then proceed north on ND Highway 18 to ND Highway 200A near Blanchard; then proceed east on ND 200A to I-29.

* Southbound I-29 traffic will be detoured west on ND Highway 200A south of Hillsboro (Exit 100) to ND Highway 18 near Blanchard; then proceed south on ND Highway 18 to I-94 at Casselton; then proceed east on I-94 to I-29.

* Eastbound I-94 traffic that plans to travel north should detour onto ND Highway 18 at Casselton (Exit 331); then proceed north on ND Highway 18 to ND Highway 200A near Blanchard; then proceed east on ND 200A to I-29.

The following areas/roadways are closed due to flooding:

* Interstate 29, north of Fargo at County Road 20 (Exit 69) to ND Highway 200A (Exit 100), all northbound and southbound lanes will be closed at 6 p.m. due to water over the roadway.

* ND Highway 11, five miles southeast of Forman is closing at 6 p.m. due to water on the roadway. Only local traffic is allowed.

ND Highway 200, two miles west of Goodrich has water on the roadway.

* ND Highway 200, from Hurdsfield east to the US Highway 52 Junction is closed due to water on roadway. Only local traffic is allowed. Travelers are advised to detour on US Hwy 52 and ND Hwy 3 to Harvey.

* Sorlie Bridge in downtown Grand Forks and East Grand Forks on DeMers Avenue, which inclues U.S. Highway 2 Business Loop is closed. The Point Bridge just south of the two downtowns also is closed. Only the Kennedy Bridge on Gateway Drive on the main U.S. Highway 2 route remains open.

* ND Highway 200A approximately two miles north and five miles north of Washburn, about 20 miles north of Bismarck, is closed due to water on roadway. Local traffic only.

ND Highway 200, north of Hillsboro is closed due to water over the road. Local traffic only is allowed south of Hillsboro.

ND Highway 10, five miles west of Fargo is closed due to water over the road.

*ND Highway 15, railroad underpass at Fessenden is closed due to water flooding the underpass.

* ND Highway 11, five miles west of Ludden is closed due to water over the roadway. Local traffic only is allowed between Ellendale and the junction of ND Highway 1, west of Ludden. Detour is in place.

* ND Highway 17 is closed from I-29 to the Red River due to Minnesota Highway 317 being closed near Fargo. Local traffic only is allowed.

* Mapleton truck parking area on westbound I-94 is closed due to flooding about 20 miles west of Fargo.

The following highways are affected by flood waters, but remain open with traffic speeds reduced:

* ND Highway 3 just west of Hurdsfield, has water on the edge of the roadway.

* ND Highway 37, seven miles south of Parshall has water on the roadway.

*Interstate 94, two miles west of Tower City, reduced to one lane due to a flood control barrier. Width restriction of 16-feet in place.

* ND Highway 30, seven miles north of Lehr has water on the roadway. Motorists must stop and take turns.

* US Highway 83, five miles south of Max has water on the northbound roadway.

* US Highway 83, three miles north of Minot has water near the edge of the southbound roadway.

* US Highway 83, two miles north of Coleharbor. Both northbound and southbound have water on roadway, reduced to a single lane of traffic.

* ND Highway 13, four miles west of Verona has water on the roadway.

ND Highway 32, three miles north of Forman has water near the edge of the shoulder. Traffic speeds are normal.

*ND Highway 9, five miles south of Wimbledon has water on the roadway.

* ND Highway 200, nine miles west of Hurdsfield has water near the edge of the shoulder.

* ND Highway 11, at the ND/MN border near Fairmount has water near the edge of the shoulder

* ND Highway 11, ten miles east of Oakes has water near the shoulder.

*ND Highway 32, seven miles north of Lisbon has water on the roadway. Motorists must stop and take turns.

* ND Highway 27, sixteen miles west of Lisbon has water near the edge of the shoulder.

* ND Highway 27, seven miles east of Lisbon has water on the roadway.

* ND Highway 13, two miles west of Wahpeton. Both eastbound and westbound lanes have water on road, reduced to a single lane of traffic.

*ND Highway 18, two miles north of the South Dakota border near Lidgerwood has water near the edge of the shoulder.

*ND Highway 3, one mile south of the ND Highway 200 Junction, west of Hurdsfield,has water on the roadway.

Motorists should check road conditions before traveling due to rapidly changing conditions. Fluctuating water levels make it difficult to predict when and where water will go over the roadway or recede from the roadway. For road information, call 511 from any type of phone or go to the website: www.dot.nd.gov.

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