GRAND FORKS – The Columbia Road overpass will be closed to all traffic beginning May 19 until October, with additional lane closures expected later this summer at 11th Avenue South.

The structure needs to be closed to allow the city to replace the bearings that support the bridge deck , according to information provided by the city. During the rehabilitation, the entire deck will be lifted so crews can access the bearings and replace them. The structure is around 30 years old and this is the first time that they’ve been replaced.

For most of the summer, Columbia Road will be closed from the DeMers Avenue ramps to Second Avenue North. Beginning in September, additional lane closures will come as the city connects a new stormwater sewer under the road.

That connection is part of the Vail Circle storm sewer improvement project. Work to improve the area’s stormwater capacity began in 2018 when a forcemain was relocated as part of the new Altru Hospital. The project has received $7.7 million in federal funding for the building of a new pump station and expansion of existing pump stations along 11th Avenue South. The city is also building a parallel sewer to expand capacity.

Work has already begun along 11th Avenue South with lane closures expected throughout the summer. For most of the summer, traffic will still continue on Columbia Road until the final connection is made. When that connection is made will be reduced to one lane in each direction according to WFW Engineers, the company working on the project.

The bridge rehabilitation project in total costs $12 million, $4.9 million of which the city is paying, according to the city. The project began last year when the bridge was repainted. The Vail Circle project will cost $11.2 million total.