The Albert Lea City Council will host a public hearing next month in connection with a major construction project slated for this summer.

The hearing, for the reconstruction of Park Avenue, Grace Street, Mariners Lane and Harriet Lane, will be at 7 p.m. March 14 at City Hall.

The project is expected to cost $3.2 million and is expected to be paid for with assessments and city, water and sanitary sewer funds.

Albert Lea City Manager Chad Adams said the existing pavements were constructed between 1952 and 1976 and are in very poor condition. He said the underground utilities were placed between 1910 and 1920 and have reached the end of their service life.

Albert Lea City Engineer Steven Jahnke said the city’s goal is to begin the project in late May or early June and have it be completed by Nov. 1.

A neighborhood meeting is planned for sometime in early March.

Travel is expected to be impacted; Jahnke said every effort will be made to provide access during the project, but because the project involves dead-end streets there will be periods when access will not be possible.

Replacement of sidewalks are planned with the exception of Grace Street and Harriet Lane. A wider sidewalk is planned on the north side of Grace Street and on the south side of Harriet Lane.

In other action, the council approved a resolution supporting a $4,360 grant application to the Minnesota Board of Firefighter Training and Education for four firefighters to attend the Fire Department Instructors Conference in Indianapolis.

The grant would reimburse the city for registration costs.