Are you ready for some road construction?
Published 9:00 am Sunday, April 17, 2016
Fewer state projects planned in freeborn Co. than recent years
By Sarah Stultz and Sam Wilmes
Though there are fewer major road construction projects slated this summer on state highways passing through Freeborn County than in recent years, there are several significant projects planned to take place in Albert Lea.
Some of the larger projects include the Lake Chapeau Drive, Park Avenue and Edgewater Drive reconstructions, while there will be bituminous overlays on several streets in the southern part of the city.
As in years past, motorists can still expect delays on Interstate 35 as steel cable barriers will be installed in September and October in Freeborn and Steele counties. Other work is slated on bridges near Owatonna.
Across the state, there are 246 road and bridge projects planned for construction this season, though the 2016 season has 44 fewer projects than the 2015 season, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
The following is a complete list of area projects slated for the summer:
Albert Lea road projects
Lake Chapeau Drive
• Reconstruction
• From County Road 46 to past City Arena
• Project needs to be completed by Aug. 19; starting date not decided
• Traffic is expected to be affected
• Estimated $346,000; bid is expected to be awarded April 25
Neighborhood improvement project
• Bituminous overlay, along with various curb, gutter and sidewalk replacement
• James Avenue from Second Street to Frank Avenue, Third Street from Newton Avenue to Frank Hall Drive, Newton Avenue from Fourth Street to Seventh Street, Sixth Street from James Avenue to Frank Hall Drive, Second Street from Broadway Avenue to Frank Hall Drive, Fourth Street from Frank Avenue to Frank Hall Drive, Frank Hall Drive from Fifth Street to Seventh Street, St. John Avenue from Fourth Street to Seventh Street. Curb and gutter replacement planned for Third Street, Fourth Street, Sixth Street and St. John Avenue
• Project needs to be completed by Aug. 19; starting date has not been decided
• Periods of traffic disruption are expected
• Estimated $1.15 million; bid expected to be awarded April 25
Edgewater Drive
• Reconstruction
• Lakeview Boulevard through Edgewater Park, including parking lots
• Project needs to be completed by end of October; starting date has not been decided
• Some traffic disruptions
• Estimated $435,882; bid expected to be awarded April 25
Park Avenue
• Reconstruction
• Park Avenue, Grace Street, Mariners Lane and Harriet Lane
• Needs to be finished by end of October; starting date has not been decided
• Traffic disruptions are expected
• Estimated $3 million; bid expected to be awarded April 25
Lakeview Boulevard
• Reconditioning
• Hatch Bridge to Martin Road
• Project schedule and cost not known
• Detours expected
Virginia Place and Fifth Street
• Street work on Virginia Place from Fourth Street to Seventh Street and Fifth Street from U.S. Highway 65 to St. John Avenue
• Could last until July; work began this week
ª Traffic delays and detours are expected
• $2.1 million; Ulland Brothers
Freeborn County road projects
County Road 4
Reconditioning
6 miles, Highway 11 to Highway 46
$2.3 million, Ulland Brothers
County Road 8
Shoulder safety paving
5.7 miles, County 51 to County 29
$244,377, Ulland Brothers
County Road 10
Shoulder safety paving
6.1 miles, Freeborn city limits to Waseca County line
$257,066, Ulland Brothers
County Road 16
Shoulder safety paving
4 miles, Iowa state line to Twin Lakes
$161,464, Ulland Brothers
County Road 31
Shoulder safety paving
2.7 miles, County 20 to Clarks Grove city limits
$118,518, Ulland Brothers
County Road 35
Shoulder safety paving
5.1 miles, County 20 to Interstate 35
$221,432, Ulland Brothers
County Road 46
Shoulder safety paving
6 miles, County 38 to Interstate 90
$125,292, Ulland Brothers
County Road 74
Cold in place recycling
2.3 miles, Minnesota Highway 13 to County 71
$614,528, Ulland Brothers
County Road 101
Cold in place recycling
Minnesota Highway 13 to County 20
$680,937, Ulland Brothers
County Road 1
Replace bridge over drainage ditch
London Township, Section 32
$300,000, Ulland Brothers
County Road 4
Replace bridge over drainage ditch
Mansfield Township, Section 36
$600,000
County Road 107
Replace bridge over drainage ditch
London Township, Section 19
$230,000
County Road 46 east
Full depth/partial depth repairs
$150,000, PCI Roads
County Road 46 west
Full depth/partial depth repairs
$75,000, Diamond Surface Inc.
County 82
Culvert replacement
Freeman Township, Section 16
$88,710, Freeborn Construction
Minnesota state highway projects
Highway 14
• Design-build of three bridges, part of which includes Interstate 35 bridges
• East of Owatonna
• September 2016 to September 2018
• Lane closures
$29.6 million, Lunda Construction
Interstate 35
Cable barrier installation in medians of interstate
• Freeborn, Steele counties
• September to October
• Lane restrictions, long-term southbound lane restrictions and no weekend restrictions
• $1.09 million, Erickson Builders & Co.
Interstate 35
Replacement and design-build of six bridges, part of which includes Highway 14 bridges
• Between Owatonna and Hope
• September 2016-September 2018
• Long-term lane closures
$29.6 million, Lunda Construction
Interstate 35
• Straight River rest area replacement, northbound, parking lot and site improvements
• Steele County
• August to November with opening in 2017
Rest area closed during construction
• $4.5 million, bid not finalized
Highway 56
Two bridge replacements near Adams
• Mower County
• June to September
• Detour
• $1.4 million, ICON Construction LLC
Highway 105
• Resurfacing south of Austin to west ramps of I-90
• Mower County
• May to July
• Daily lane closures, short-term intersection road closures or detours