Broadway construction is going as planned

The first phase of the Lakeview Boulevard reconstruction is two to three weeks from completion, Albert Lea City Engineer Steven Jahnke said Friday.

The first phase is concrete paving from Abbott Street to Sunset Street. The concrete contractor, Ulland Brothers, is planning on returning to work next week and staying until the phase is complete.

The first phase was scheduled to be done by Oct. 1, but equipment broke down and other scheduling issues arose, Jahnke said.

The second phase will be from Sunset Street to Wedge Street. Subgrade preparation is currently being done. Concrete work is scheduled to begin shortly after the first phase is done. The city hopes the second phase project is completed by mid-November.

Jahnke said the short-term inconvenience for drivers will be worth it and the road needed repair.

“Once we’re done we’re expecting 30 to 50 years of use,” Jahnke said. “For now it’s a big inconvenience, but in the long run it will be a nice asset to the community.”

Broadway Avenue construction is going as planned, and the majority of work is near completion, Jahnke said. He expects work will be done in the next few weeks. Main Street work from Euclid Avenue to Newton Avenue is expected to be completed by November.

The Broadway Avenue project includes milling and overlaying south of Interstate 35 to Main Street and then on Main Street from Newton to Euclid Avenue. The project also includes sidewalk replacements from Seventh Street north, as well as streetscape items, including lights and trees from Front Street north.

Work from Euclid Avenue to Newton Avenue includes sidewalk replacement, replacing the center median and pavement replacement.

The city’s neighborhood improvement project will be completed by the end of next week, Jahnke said. The project includes replacing water services, curb replacement and mill and overlay work on College Street, Jefferson Avenue, Washington Avenue, Mill Street and Court Street.

“It’s been an abnormally busy year,” Jahnke said. “We’ve had a lot of work in town. There’s been a lot of work to be done this year, not only in Albert Lea but at the county and state levels as well.”

The city is continuing underground work in connection with the Virginia Place and Fifth Street construction. The city is looking to begin street work in the spring to minimize impacts to homeowners and to allow access for the majority of the project to homeowners.