52nd Avenue Fargo, North Dakota

Background

To better serve a growing population, the City of Fargo and Fargo-Moorhead Council of Governments (MetroCOG) initiated a project to widen 52nd Avenue South into a four-lane section with turn lanes and intersection improvements from Sheyenne Street to 45th Street South.  Before the project, the existing corridor consisted of a deteriorating two-lane rural section that was not capable of handling the rapidly increasing traffic and pedestrian demands in the southwest part of the metro. HEI was selected to lead the project, leveraging its extensive experience to improve traffic flow and safety throughout the corridor.

Project Overview

The first phase of the project included the development of a corridor study and environmental document to determine the preferred improvements to pursue throughout the project.  HEI worked closely with MetroCOG and the City of Fargo to develop alternatives associated with thru lane capacity, pedestrian connectivity, and intersection configurations to improve the corridor’s overall level of service.  The studies evaluated multiple innovative intersection alternatives, including multi-lane roundabouts, signalization, ¾ access, and reduced left turn conflict (r-cut) intersections. Public engagement was prioritized throughout the project to maintain open communication channels. Multiple public meetings and workshops were organized to gather input from residents and stakeholders.

The project ultimately constructed two signalized intersections, a conversion of a single-lane roundabout into a multi-lane roundabout, and three r-cut intersections, the first of their kind in the region, to enhance traffic efficiency and safety. The project also incorporated two new bridges crossing Drain 27, a bridge, and a gated water control structure crossing the Sheyenne River.

52nd Avenue South serves as a primary corridor for private and public utilities.  As part of the project, the existing sanitary sewer and water lines were improved.  HEI also coordinated with private utilities to relocate facilities such as fiber optic, electric, and gas lines for the region, before construction.  The widening of the roadways and construction of the bridges also needed to be evaluated for environmental impacts.  HEI worked closely with several permitting agencies including the Water Resource District, the United States Army Core of Engineers (USACE), and the North Dakota Department of Water Resources (NDDWR) to secure the permits needed to construct the project.

During the detailed design, the corridor was split into two projects to improve constructability, limit impacts on traffic, and match available funding.  The first project extended from 63rd Street Southeast to 45th Street South and the second extended from Sheyenne Street to 63rd Street South.

With the project spanning multiple agencies within the jurisdiction of the roadway, including the City of Fargo, the City of West Fargo, Cass County, and the City of Horace, communication was key throughout the project.

63rd Street South to 45th Street South
This project included over 1.5 miles of urban roadway reconstruction, converting the existing two-lane rural corridor into a four-lane urban section with separate median and pedestrian facilities parallel to both the north and south sides of the roadway.  The 10’ wide shared-use paths provided essential connectivity from adjacent residential neighborhoods to nearby schools and businesses.  A portion of the shared-use path east of Drain 27 and south of 52nd Avenue South was also raised to assist during times of potential flooding in the future.
Intersection improvements included:

• 63rd Street South – Signalized
• 59th Street South – R-cut
• Veterans Boulevard – Signalized
• 51st Avenue South – R-cut
• 47th Street South – R-cut
• 45th Street South – Signal modifications

Drain 27 Bridges
Two new bridges were constructed over Drain 27, which 52nd Avenue South crosses midway through the project corridor. The previous crossing consisted of a single bridge without any dedicated pedestrian facilities. The new bridges included both a separate west-bound and east-bound structure that each consisted of two lanes and a shared-use path system. In addition, a new protected crossing was constructed along Drain 27 under the bridge, allowing pedestrians to safely cross between the north and south sides of 52nd Avenue without the need to navigate vehicular traffic. Aesthetic enhancements including decorative ornamental railings, architectural concrete, and end monuments were included on each bridge.

Sheyenne Street to 63rd Street South
This project included the reconstruction of approximately 0.5 miles of 52nd Ave South utilizing a similar section to the segment from 63rd Street South to 45th Street South.  Due to the increased traffic in the area, our studies showed the traffic level of service was significantly impacted by the existing single-lane roundabout at the intersection of Sheyenne St and 52nd Avenue.  To improve the level of service and meet the needs and goals of the project, the final design incorporated widening of the roundabout pavement and legs of the roundabout to function as a two-lane roundabout.

Sheyenne River Bridge
A new bridge was constructed over the Sheyenne River, which 52nd Avenue South crosses near the west end of the project. The new bridge provides two lanes of traffic in each direction separated by a raised concrete median, as well as shared-use paths on each side of the bridge for safe pedestrian and bicycle use. The existing gated water control structure which was an integral part of the south portion of the bridge was also replaced to maintain water levels and maintain use of the City of Fargo’s water intake structure upstream. The control structure is integral to the bridge and includes two large steel slide gates, concrete weirs, a gate column, and a maintenance platform on the upstream side of the bridge. To improve fish passage and aquatic organism habitat throughout the Sheyenne River, a fish passage rock arch rapid’s structure was incorporated into the bridge design to meet environmental needs. Aesthetic enhancements including decorative ornamental railings, architectural concrete, and end monuments were included on the bridge.

Winners of both the NDRM&CPA Gold Star Award in the Bridge and Street Paving Categories, as well as the Outstanding Design Award from the NDSPE at both the chapter and state level, 2025.