MINOT, ND ( KXNET ) — With some concrete replacement in Minot now complete, city officials say it is time to test the streets’ flood-wall closure.

Starting next Wednesday, October 9 at 9 a.m., city crews will be conducting testing on flood prevention equipment on 16th Street Southwest near the Minot Water Treatment Center.

Crews will be installing six I-Beams that will go across the street, followed by six aluminum stop logs about 10 inches tall and eight feet wide creating a barrier at the opening of the road most prone to flooding. The barrier is about 80 feet wide.

Utilities Director Jason Sorenson says testing out this kind of equipment is good practice.

“We’re going to rely on these to keep flood waters from coming outside the banks of the river, so it’s very important that we have confidence in our flood control closures when that event comes, so this is an exercise it gets our employees used to setting them up,” said Sorenson.

During equipment testing, 16th Street Southwest will be closed to traffic.

Sorenson says making sure the flood equipment works is how they’ll be able to prevent future flooding damage.

“During 2011, there was floodwater that was really deep, so you can see that in the height of the flood walls, you know, so it’s just vitally important after we have spent all this money on flood control that these structures work properly,” said Sorenson.

16th Street Southwest is expected to reopen to traffic that day by 4 p.m.

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