Traveling through the Northern Red River Valley is an adventure this spring.
Even before floodwaters have receded, the damage to state, county and township roads is estimated in the millions of dollars.
N.D. Highway 18 is closed north of Neche, N.D., where floodwaters from the Pembina River washed out a 160-foot section of the road near the Port of Entry on the U.S.-Canadian border. The road has been closed since April 17.
The North Dakota Department of Transportation expects construction crews to begin emergency repairs this weekend, with a deadline of May 8 to get the road and border crossing reopened, according to Les Noehr, NDDOT Grand Forks District engineer.
"We're glad they're making it a priority, said Scott Reck, the Neche Volunteer Fire Chief who operates Northdale Oil Co., a fuel company that relies on Canadian customers. "I wish they could get it done sooner. It's quite detrimental to businesses here. With the closest border crossing 17 miles away, one way, you don't get a lot of traffic."
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It's difficult to travel anywhere in northern Pembina County, or within 10 miles on either side of the Red River in North Dakota and Minnesota.
State highways over the Red River remain closed from Drayton, N.D., to Pembina, N.D. And many county and township roads remain under water. Other roads are threatened by washouts, including Pembina County Highway 55 west of Neche.
Preliminary estimates indicate damage to roads in Pembina County total almost $700,000, according to the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services.
The latest Federal Emergency Management Agency report indicates North Dakota's road system has about $15.8 million in damage this spring. Here are the county-by-county estimates in the region:
- Cavalier: $809,040.
- Walsh: $709,141.
- Pembina: $691,332.
- Grand Forks: $526,539.
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- Steele: $294,901.
- Traill: $91,972.
- Griggs: $71,890.
- Ramsey: $52,479.
- Nelson: $48,939.
State officials say those totals undoubtedly will increase, because most of the inspections were made in mid-April, before most of the flooding had receded.
In Grand Forks County, for example, County Highway Superintendent Richard Onstad now estimates damage to county and township roads at $1.4 million, including almost $1 million to county roads, bridges and culverts and $400,000 to the township system.
"This is the first time in all the time I've been here that we've had all 41 townships involved," he said. "In 2006, it was the eastern half of the county, 21 townships. This year, it was the entire county."
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Onstad has been on the job in Grand Forks for 40 years.
Across the Red River, flooding has caused major damage to Minnesota Highway 1 and Minnesota 220 near Oslo, Minn.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation will start a $500,000 project next week to repair Minnesota Highway 1, from Oslo, Minn., to Minnesota Highway 11, east of Drayton, N.D.
Curt Larson, MnDOT district maintenance superintendent, said about $200,000 already has been spent in that area this spring.
Minnesota Highway 175 is closed west of Hallock, Minn., as are virtually all roads within five or six miles of the Red River in Kittson County.
Richard Sanders, Polk County highway engineer, said flooding has damaged most roads within 8 to 10 miles of the Red River throughout the county.
He said damage also has occurred in the Climax and Trail, Minn., areas.
Sanders said he still is waiting for reports to estimate damage throughout the county, but adds that it should not approach the levels of damage in the Flood of 1997.
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He said the county is making repairs as it can get to the roads.
"We've gone through this so many times, with all the flooding we have," he said. "We've been on top of it, and we fix these as we go."
Reach Bonham at (701) 780-1110; (800) 477-6572, ext. 110; or send e-mail to kbonham@gfherald.com .
