Drivers Grapple With Road Conditions After First Snow of Winter

Fargo Public Works began plowing right at midnight, but over 20 crashes were still reported to the police department.

FARGO, N.D. – It’s been so long since people in the Fargo-Moorhead area have seen snow, one could almost forgive them for being caught off guard on their morning commutes.

The Fargo Public Works department, however, was primed and ready.

“We’re coping well,” said Fargo Public Works Service Manager Corey Houim.

“Crews hit the streets last night after midnight, we’ve been plowing our snow emergency routes since then. And now we’ve just transitioned into our residential areas, so we’re starting to get those side streets cleared off.”

Still, not all traffic flowed smoothly in the metro. FPD said they responded to 26 crashes in a 20-hour span, while Moorhead fared better with just four in six hours of reporting.

Additionally, the North Dakota Highway Patrol says one of their troopers was struck by a motorist while the officer was attempting to provide traffic control.

Houim says that despite the progress they’re making in clearing the roads – these incidents are a great reminder to be careful out there.

“Snow emergency routes are looking a lot better now after we’ve had them scraped off, and we put some product on them, so they’re healing up,” he said, “but still – drive with care.”