MOORHEAD — The Minnesota Department of Transportation has released video simulations of what the proposed 11th Street underpass in downtown Moorhead would look like from aerial and street-level views.

Although a special federal BUILD grant was rejected in the past few months, the project remains at the top of the list for safety railroad projects for MnDOT and is on Gov. Tim Walz's list for bonding bill projects this year.

The bonding bill that will be debated and approved in this year's Minnesota legislative session could likely include funding for the project that would go underneath two sets of BNSF tracks downtown to improve safety and traffic flow.

It's also projected to help with economic development in the downtown area as the city works on a new redevelopment plan.

The city's police station and fire station are on the north side of the two tracks, and when trains are blocking the roadway it delays response times to emergencies on the south side.

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A release from the city on Monday, Feb. 17, said MnDOT and Moorhead are working on the layout and environmental documentation for the project.

Moorhead, which is bisected by multiple rail lines, faces numerous difficulties because of the heavy rail traffic and wait times at the tracks, the release said.

The preliminary estimated cost for the project is $52 million. It would also involve utility replacements, new signals, pedestrian improvements and bicycle and handicap accessibility upgrades.

The videos were released to the public for the first time last week when a meeting was held at Moorhead Center Mall for the downtown master plan.