The Point and Sorlie bridges connecting Grand Forks and East Grand Forks may have to close as early as this weekend, Grand Forks City Engineer Al Grasser told City Council members Monday.
That'll be based on how quickly the river rises and where it's expected to be over the weekend, he said. "We try not to close it any ealier than we have to," he told the Herald. East Grand Forks will have to make the call, he said, because the approach to bridge from over there is the lowest point.
Grand Forks city crews will be putting up stop logs blocking pedestrian crossings at the Sorlie during the week, he said, but that's just to save time later.
Once the two bridges close, the only crossing between the two cities will be the Kennedy Bridge on U.S. Highway 2.
Grasser said there are no plans yet to close the Kennedy. "I'm optimistic we can keep it open, but it's going to be close - according to the numbers."
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The Red River was at 33.59 feet Monday evening. There would be water on the approach to the Point Bridge at 44.9 feet, to the Sorlie Bridge at 46.2 feet and to the Kennedy Bridge at 52.6 feet. The bridges are usually closed a few feet below those levels though exactly how many depends on how fast the river rises.
Also at the 45 to 46 feet mark, Grasser said, he expects the city might forbid the public to walk on top of the earthen levees. That's about the time water reaches the foot of the levees, he said, and the city doesn't want pedestrians to accidentally slip down the steep sides into deep water.
The National Weather Service expects the Red River to reach the 50 to 52 feet mark around mid-month, Grasser said, if no more rain or snow falls.
The good news, he said, is the rate of rise this year has so far been much slower than in previous years. What this means is there's more time for more water to pass through, he said. This is mostly true in other parts of the valley, he said.
The city's also begun closing access to the Greenway, he said. The narrower access points are being closed off first and the wider access points, such as at Lincoln Drive Park, are partially closed, he said.
In other news, the Grand Forks County Sheriff's Office said it's putting up road closure signs on roads leading into flooded areas. "Road closed local traffic only," the office said, "means you live there or you have business in the area. If deputies determine you are a sightseer you will be cited for going around a road closure sign."
Also, no one may operate a vehicle on or across any dike or flood protective works, the office said. Doing so is a Class B misdemeanor, it said.
Reach Tran at (701) 780-1248; (800) 477-6572, ext. 248; or send e-mail to ttran@gfherald.com .
