New Rockford Transcript - Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883

Construction on Highway 281 is wrapping up.

As of press time, construction crews were laying the final lift of pavement on the northbound lane just outside of Sheyenne.

According to Ethan Kitsch, Project Engineer team lead for the project, once that's done, it won't be long before drivers can return to the highway unobstructed by pilot cars and a 45-mph speed limit.

"We should be completed [with paving] this week," said Kitsch on Tuesday. "It'll just be miscellaneous cleaning items throughout next week and possibly the following week, and then they should be about wrapped up on this project."

Back in July, Kitsch told the Transcript that completion of the project wasn't expected until around mid-October, depending on weather conditions.

Meanwhile, work on the New Rockford Street Improvement Project continues. Many of the roads on the south end of town have now been paved, and work is ongoing to prepare the north end of town.

Work around the New Rockford-Sheyenne Public School took place during a scheduled break at the end of last week and over the weekend.

On Monday, Oct. 17, the City of New Rockford announced that the truck route would be temporarily rerouted for two weeks, due to a closure of the intersection on 10th Street by Dauenhauer Diesel.

The alternate route has drivers turn on 9th Street, go past the bowling alley and then turn left onto Central Avenue.