FARGO (KVRR-KFGO) – A proposed new bridge over the Red River at 12th Avenue North in Fargo could cost up to $30 million, according to project planners.
Engineers in Fargo, Moorhead, FM Metro COG, the state departments of transportation, USDOT and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are putting together plans for a new bridge at 12th Avenue North in Fargo, which is the former toll bridge.
Jeremy Gordon is an Engineer with the City of Fargo’s Transportation Division. He says the 12th Avenue North bridge was built too low to withstand major Red River flooding and they need to reconstruct it at a higher elevation.
City officials say right now, the bridge is flood-prone, has poor pedestrian access and the pavement is in poor condition. Gordon says the current 12th Avenue bridge goes under water at a flood stage of about 27 feet.
Other things that planners are taking into consideration are minimizing permanent parking impacts in the area, ensuring the bridge would benefit parks on both sides, and minimizing disruption during events.
Gordon says the proposed alignment is generally in the same spot on the Fargo side of the river. On the Moorhead side, the bridge is too close to homes, so the new bridge would be shifted to the north to ensure it stays on city-owned property.
Engineers are also looking at the intersection of 12th Avenue North and Elm Street. Right now, planners are recommending a mini roundabout or a traffic signal to help with traffic flow.
Gordon says the project is moving along as scheduled. Public engagement hearings were held in Fargo and Moorhead in September. By spring 2026, 50% of the plan should be submitted and by January 2027, they will submit the signed plans.
Gordon says they will come back to the Fargo City Commission for a decision in the next couple of months on whether to move forward with the project and, if so, what type of intersection is preferred at 12th Avenue and Elm Street.
Currently, a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) grant for $1.5 million is paying for things like traffic analysis, public meetings, hydraulic analysis, engineering and design.
The estimated cost of the project is between $27 million and $30 million. No funding is allocated to construction at this time. Planners anticipate applying for a USDOT grant in 2026 and say no local funds are set aside for construction of the bridge yet.
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