Photo: Jacob Anderson, KFGO News
MOORHEAD, Minn. (KFGO) – Moorhead officially celebrated the completion of the $171 million 11th Street underpass Wednesday, capping off the largest transportation project in the city’s history with promises of smoother commutes and property tax relief for local homeowners.
The new grade separation is designed to eliminate more than 70 train blockages each day, removing a major bottleneck for drivers and emergency responders. Located near the Moorhead Fire Department headquarters, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the police department, the underpass creates a direct route to the city’s south side without delays from passing trains.
Beyond traffic flow, state lawmakers pointed to significant financial savings for residents. State Sen. Rob Kupec, DFL-Moorhead, said the Minnesota Legislature stepped in during the 2023 session to cover a $10 million funding shortfall through state bonding, preventing the city from levying special assessments on nearby property owners.
“That means people don’t have to pay a special assessment to pay for that underpass,” Kupec said. “There is some real dollars and cents to homeowners in the central part of Moorhead that this counts for.”
Kupec noted that many central neighborhood residents are still paying off assessments from a previous underpass project constructed near Moorhead High School.
The project was funded through a combination of $120 million in state legislative appropriations, $26.3 million in federal grants, $21.5 million from the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and $3.8 million from local city and county funds.
City leaders and community members officially marked the opening Wednesday afternoon with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and downtown block party.
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