Highway project traffic-stopper, head-turner and snarly

The massive highway project through Hillsboro is turning heads, pedestrian and highway traffic in different directions and once-hard pavement into dust.

The harder and heavier pieces of pavement are being hauled from town, causing traffic snarls of long trucks on normally quiet and accommodating streets.

In fact, traffic on Hillsboro’s streets running into Hwy. 200 can be best described in one word: snarly.

Hillsboro streets north of the four-way stop and entering old Highway 81 from the east and west were blocked earlier this week as heavy machines and trucks ripped apart the old pavement.

Down by the dam on the Goose River, men and machine were digging a huge hole adjacent the Goose, large enough to accommodate culverts capable of easily handling the runoff from the city’s northwest streets, all traversing under the highway and railroad tracks.

Retired Hillsboro businessman Ed Olsen on Wednesday inspected the work down by the dam.

Ed’s assessment of the project might have fish in the Goose River worried, fishermen perplexed and flood watchers smiling.

Ed was thinking, in case of a major rain event, the flooding Goose River could easily back up through the new and gapping storm sewers and into the streets on the northeast side of town.

“We should be able to pick fish right out of the gutter.”

Won’t even have to wet a line.

“Hope those guys now what they’re doing,” Ed said, walking away.

Meanwhile, closer to the heart of Hillsboro and the highway project that has 81 turned upside down, drivers turning around and Northern Improvement flagman Ted Trove, of Fargo, turning every which way.

Ted’s hoping motorists understand.

Hillsboro residents are hoping their frustrations, warranted without question, are indexed and classified and duly noted.

Because the Summer of 2008 is going to be a test.

Snarly, at best.