High Winds Slam Devils Lake - Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand Forks

High Winds Slam Devils Lake

  The wind is just screaming across Devils Lake. Swells can reach 6 to 7 feet. The only saving grace in all this… is that the lake dropped 2-feet this summer, and a 200-million dollar road project has once again raised the road above the level of the lake.

  In fact, this road has been raised 40-feet over the past decade.

Kristen Nelson, Emergency Manager: "Yes, as far as driving through water coming over the roads, absolutely. Things are much better. They're improved because of the road raises."

 And while the top of the road is now safe from the waved, rain this week put plans to pave this road on hold.

  Traffic was moving at a snail's pace as giant potholes continue to be beat into the road. Combine that with high winds and it was a wild ride for the driver of this moving truck.

Annette Alt, Montana: "Going over with this truck… we came over last night and I was afraid the truck and everything else was going to end up in the lake…ha."

  The good news is that the DOT hopes to still get this main highway into Devils Lake paved, by the time things freeze up.

Greg Semenko, DOT: "We'll maintain it. Get it ready and be back paving as quick as we can."

Reporter: "You want it done by this winter?"

Semenko: "We want it done."

   …while it looks a mess, Semenko says their job is actually much easier now, since the tops of roads are no longer overrun by waves, when the wind starts howling, here on Devils Lake.