Emergency crews adapt to Moorhead's major roadwork

MOORHEAD — While construction may be a frustration for drivers, for first responders, detours can mean the difference between life and death.

The 11th Street underpass construction project in Moorhead is forcing ambulances and police to plan ahead to save precious time when it matters the most.

Sanford Ambulance says the major construction project is affecting the way they think.

“It’s very important, especially if someone’s experiencing a medical emergency,” said Don Martin, Sanford Ambulance operations manager.

The construction is piling up, creating tighter traffic and forcing emergency vehicles to analyze how it impacts their responsiveness.

“We can also get down to the science of it, looking at exactly where the calls are at, what time of day are the calls at ... and we can strategically place those ambulances more effectively and efficiently within the Moorhead area,” said Martin.

It’s nothing new for Sanford Ambulance. They did similar research and response during past projects — and Martin says it's critical to continue.

“We want to make sure that we’re, you know, getting to our patients as quickly as we possibly can,” Martin said.

Martin says when their ambulances are in construction zones, it’s not like your typical road. They sometimes have to shut their lights off and go with the flow of traffic.

“They (other motorists) panic, they get confused, they don’t know where to go, and so it just creates more chaos. And now everything's stopped, because everyone’s going every direction,” Martin said.

So far, response times haven’t wavered. They are continuing to look at call data to best position themselves around the construction to respond quickly. They may station additional ambulances throughout the city.

The public can help, too.

“Do your due diligence and make sure you follow the law of, you know, moving to the right for us, because construction season does wreak havoc, and it could be your loved one that, you know, we’re trying to respond to,” Martin said.

Martin says when you’re driving near a construction zone, be aware of your surroundings. Workers can be anywhere, and their safety matters just as much.