The most direct route to the Pizza Ranch, BP station and the other businesses accessed by 20th Street west of U.S. 281 is closed due to the 281 construction project. However, travelers willing to follow a detour are still finding their way, said Ted Schneider, project superintendent for Northern Improvement Company, the lead contractor on the project. The closure will allow the paving of the intersection in one segment.
"The traffic flow is going well," he said. "No complaints. People are using the detour."
For the rest of this week travelers who would normally go west from U.S. 281 at 20th Street are advised to go two blocks north to 18th Street and take the northwest frontage road, which is now open to two-way traffic, south to their destination.
Construction crews are trying to keep the amount of time the detour is necessary to a minimum.
"The rain last night (Monday night) held us up," Schneider said. "But we're trying to make up lost ground."
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The intersection is scheduled to be closed for five days. In order to meet this schedule work will continue through the Fourth of July holiday with some crews knocking off a little early after the intersection is reopened on Friday.
The completion of the 20th Street intersection will wrap up the projects major work north of I-94. Completion of work south of I-94 is slated for Oct. 15.
The next major change to the detours in the project will likely occur early next week.
"We are on schedule to close the eastbound exit ramp off I-94 on Monday," Schneider said.
Motorists will be directed to take exit 257 and merge onto 17th Street Southwest to the U.S. 281 intersection where both north and southbound turns will be provided.
During construction, speed will be reduced to 30 mph in the construction zone, there will be flaggers present to direct traffic. In some places vehicle width restrictions of 10 feet will be in place. Rear-end collisions are the most common type of accidents in work zones. Motorists are asked to use caution and pay extra attention, obey posted signage and flaggers and allow extra distance between their vehicles and the vehicle in front of them.
Further information, including the most current detour maps, can be ac-cessed at www.jamestown-281.com .
Sun reporter Keith Norman can be reached at (701) 952-8452 or by e-mail at knorman@jamestownsun.com
