Fargo Celebrates Reopening of Second Street North After Floodwall Project

The ongoing floodwall project that shut down traffic on 2nd Street North in Fargo since 2014 has finally come to end.

“Projects like this are going to make our city a very lovable city and a very protected city,” said Mayor Tim Mahoney. “And our downtown area truly has to be protected. “I think people can sleep better at night knowing this was done.”

The road had been shut down for more than a year in order to move it back from the river.

The addition of the floodwall, which totaled approximately $40 million, will now provide permanent flood protection to this area.

“But it not only provides permanent flood protection,” said Sen. John Hoeven. “You won’t have to build a temporary levy every time it floods and that’s happened five times since 2009.”

The floodwall will serve another purpose as well.

“People are looking at flood insurance premiums and those kind of things,” explained Sen. Hoeven. “So it’s also about saving people money as well as protecting the homes, lives and property.”

The floodwall and road realignment will allow for more water to flow through the town.

It’ll be able to hold back even more water than in the flood fight of 2009.

However, officials say additional work can always be done.

“Well we need to keep going right,” added Sen. Hoeven. “This past year, both authorization and appropriation to build the permanent project…the $2 billion project that’s comprehensive for the whole region and so we got to keep moving so we get it done.”

Officials say that they’re excited for what’s next to come and thankful that both the Fargo and Moorhead communities came together for a successful turnout.