FARGO — Municipal and state road crews were responding to multiple pavement failures after a stretch of hot weather caused asphalt to expand and split, temporarily disrupting traffic on 25th Street South and a westbound section of Interstate 94 near the Veterans Boulevard exit.
Where the damage occurred and response timeline
On Monday, July 13, contractors closed a portion of 25th Street South while crews patched a buckled lane. Southbound vehicles were rerouted into the center turn lane while work progressed. City officials expected lanes to be fully reopened by the end of the day on Tuesday, July 14.
State crews also reported a separate buckling event on I-94 westbound near the Veterans Boulevard interchange, which required traffic control and inspection to ensure safety.
- 25th Street South (Fargo) — section blocked July 13; patched and slated to fully reopen July 14.
- I-94 westbound near Veterans Boulevard — buckling reported; inspections and traffic management in place.
Why heat damages roadways
Officials with the North Dakota Department of Transportation explained that extremely warm temperatures cause pavement to expand. Over time, that expansion weakens surfaces, and debris pushed into expansion joints can force the material to pop and crack under stress.
"It gets weaker, so it gets kind of degraded over time. And then again, with all the sand and dirt and everything else on the road, it gets in them expansion joints. And when it expands, it'll pop at them joints,"
The department advised motorists to treat buckled pavement as a safety hazard. If drivers spot a section of roadway deforming or developing a sudden bump, they should report it to law enforcement by calling 911
