Construction projects make a start to the school year more congested

Fargo, ND (WDAY TV) -- School starts soon, and many construction projects are winding down.

But there will be an overlap, making travel frustrating for many.

Anubrata Dutta uses the MatBus system to get to and from his job at NDSU's tech center. But with many construction projects on campus and downtown, his route has changed a little.

Dutta: "But it doesn't make much difference. It's pretty good."

The campus and downtown Fargo are filled with orange cones - always a frustration, but with school starting soon it will get even more congested.

Tenth street - one of the area's main thoroughfares - is completely blocked off around fourth avenue, and will be for another three weeks.

Students returning to the main campus from downtown buildings like Barry Hall used to be able to get straight there on 10th street. Now, all the construction in this area has bus routes detoured for several blocks to get around.

That detour takes traffic to third avenue, up fifteenth street, and then back to 10th.

MATBUs will communicate with NDSU to send e-mail blasts to students about any changes in routes.

Julie Bommelman/Transit Administrator: "When the students first get back and with the construction going on, it's going to take a little bit longer, but not much. A couple more minutes, but we'll still be getting the students to and from for their classes and such."

Until construction is over, students and other drivers will just have to be patient with the detours.

Dutta: "They will feel a little bit uncomfortable. But after the construction happens and is over, they will find it pretty easy."

A combination of one-way streets and railroad crossings makes downtown detours difficult to plan.

Tags: city, news, construction, updates