The Moorhead City Council approved a framework agreement on Jan. 12 to participate in a Fargo-led study and design process for replacing the 15th Avenue North bridge.

City Engineer Tom Trowbridge told the council the bridge opened to traffic in July 1988, was built low to reduce river impacts and therefore floods frequently. "It actually flooded within about 6 months of opening," he said, noting that since the toll was removed traffic has risen from a private-era 1,500'3,000 vehicles per day to roughly 10,000 vehicles per day.

Trowbridge said the study, led by the City of Fargo with Moorhead as a partner, selected Houston Engineering to prepare environmental analysis, traffic work, geotechnical engineering and design. He said the cities received a USDOT design grant of approximately $1,500,000 to carry the work through final design and public outreach.

The replacement concept would raise the bridge substantially to maintain year-round connection despite high river stages; Trowbridge said the top of the proposed bridge would be roughly 18 feet higher than the existing structure. He told council members the environmental review is near completion and the project may qualify for a categorical exclusion. The current construction estimate is "27 to $30,000,000," he said, and no construction funding has been secured.

Council members asked about life expectancy, traffic impacts and cost-sharing arrangements. Trowbridge estimated the replacement has at least a 50-year basic life if maintained, said traffic models do not predict a major daily traffic increase beyond avoiding seasonal closures, and described typical construction agreements as splitting core bridge costs about 50/50 while site-specific enhancements (aesthetic treatments, wider bike paths, landscaping) would be separate local costs.

With a motion from Council member Ryan Nelson and a second from Council member Heather Niesemeyer, the council approved the agreement allowing staff to continue design work and to pursue federal funding. Trowbridge said further public engagement is planned as final design progresses.