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(NewsDakota.com) – Two roads that have been partially closed since Feb. 17 due to a fire in downtown Jamestown regained two-way traffic Monday.
City engineer Reed Schwartzkopf says two-way traffic is now allowed on both First Avenue North in the 300 block and Second Street Southwest. For about the last month, only one-way traffic has been allowed.
The narrow lanes are marked off by cones, and Schwartzkopf says they are still asking trucks to use the detour route for First Avenue North.
Schwartzkopf says they still haven’t been allowed access to the information regarding the structural integrity of the old Elks building, which was damaged in the fire. Because they don’t have that information, he says they have to guard against a possible collapse of the building, therefore closing off some of the street. There is only one lane of southbound traffic on First Avenue North.
“I’ve made the decision to push back the safety envelope (around the building) as far back as I dare, until I get the definitive word on what is happening in that structure,” said Schwartzkopf.
He says they have a 35-foot cushion that runs through the streets around the building.

