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Despite setbacks in many other areas of life due to COVID-19, road construction is slated to continue as scheduled.

The largest project to affect the area will likely be the Bridge Avenue reconstruction, which is slated to start at Hammer Road on the north end and continue south.

On a state level, eastbound Interstate 90 will also be resurfaced with concrete from Freeborn County Road 46 to Minnesota Highway 105 in Austin.

The project is one of 188 road and bridge projects announced last week through the Minnesota Department of Transportation across the state.

Some of the projects have already begun and others are proceeding ahead of schedule in light of reduced traffic volumes in Minnesota because of statewide efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is critical that MnDOT continue its work to maintain and improve our state’s transportation infrastructure,” said Commissioner Margaret Anderson Kelliher in a news release last week. “A safe, reliable and multimodal transportation system is essential to keeping our state running in times of crisis. MnDOT construction projects will continue as scheduled and within the guidance set by state and federal health officials to prevent further spread of COVID-19. We are especially grateful to our employees and partners in labor and the private sector for working together and prioritizing safety for workers on project sites.”

Gov. Tim Walz provided an exemption for workers engaged in roadway construction, maintenance and utility projects in his stay-at-home order.

The following is a complete list of area projects slated for the summer:

 

Minnesota state highway projects

U.S. Highway 14

• Expand to four lanes

• Between Owatonna and Dodge Center

U.S. Highway 63/Interstate 90 interchange

• Replace Highway 63 bridges, reconstruct two I-90 off-ramps

• South of Rochester

 

Albert Lea projects

Neighborhood improvement project

• Bituminous mill and overlay, miscellaneous curb and gutter and sidewalk replacement

• Sunset Street from Lake Chapeau Drive to Meadow Lane, Campus Drive from Lake Chapeau Drive to the cul-de-sac, Campus Lane from Campus Drive to Trollwood Drive, Trollwood Drive from Sunset Street to Campus Lane, Meadow Lane from Sunset Street to Sunset Street (north loop), Seath Drive from C.R. 74 to Westwood Drive, Westwood Drive from Ashley Court to Seath Drive, Hale Drive from Quisley Street to the cul-de-sac, Crystal Drive from Hale Drive to Silver Lane, Silver Lane from Crystal Drive to the cul-de-sac, Ekko Avenue from Sykes Street to Plaza Street, Plaza Street from 292 feet east of Bridge Avenue to Ekko Avenue, Frank Hall Drive from South Shore Drive to Seventh Street, 10th Street from Margaretha Avenue to Halverson Elementary School

• Completion by Aug. 31

• Neighborhood improvement and James Avenue projects were bid as a single project with a total cost of $1.377 million.

James Avenue

• Complete reconstruction, including bituminous surface, curb and gutter, watermain and sanitary sewer; sanitary sewer will be sliplined using cured-in-place-pipe methods

• Seventh Street to Eighth Street

• Substantial completion by Oct. 31; final lift of bituminous installed spring 2021

• Neighborhood improvement and James Avenue projects were bid as a single project with a total cost of $1.377 million.

Clark Street

• Complete reconstruction, including bituminous pavement, curb and gutter, sidewalk, watermain and storm sewer; sanitary sewer work will be a combination of CIPP sliplining and open trench replacement

• First Avenue to South Ermina Avenue

• Project bid opening April 14 with substantial completion by Oct. 31; final lift of bituminous will be installed spring 2021

Newton Avenue/College Street parking lot

• Bituminous pavement reconstruction in parking lot

• At the intersection of Newton Avenue and College Street

• Project bid opening April 21 with completion by Oct. 31

Bridge Avenue

• Complete reconstruction, including underground utilities

• From Marshall Street to Hammer Road

• Project bid opening is April 21

• This is a joint city/county project

Blazing Star Trail rehabilitation

• Reconstruct a deteriorated portion of the Blazing Star Trail from the Interstate 35 bridge to CSAH 38 (State Park Road)

• This is a partnership between the city and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

• Project will be designed and administered by the city of Albert Lea, but paid using bonding funds

Clausen Avenue, High Street, Sheridan Street, Giles Place and alley

• Carryover project from 2019

• Installation of the final lift of bituminous

• Completion by June 15

Stables Area sewer/water extension project, including Country Club Road

• Carryover project from 2019

• Installation of final lift of bituminous and final grading and restoration

• Completion by June 15

Pearl Street

• Reconditioning an existing sanitary sewer on Pearl Street

• Completion by fall 2020

 

Freeborn County projects

Freeborn County Road 12

• Mill and overlay for approximately one mile

• Freeborn County Road 46 to Freeborn County Road 51

Freeborn County Road 13

• Micro-mill and micro-surfacing for approximately 11.8 miles

• From Glenville to Mower County line

Freeborn County Road 14

• Mill and overlay, approximately three miles

• From Freeborn County Road 17 to Freeborn County Road 46

Freeborn County Road 17

• Mill and overlay, approximately four miles

• From Faribault County line to Freeborn County Road 4

Freeborn County Road 17

• Micro-mill and micro-surfacing, approximately 2.5 miles

• From Freeborn County Road 4 to Freeborn County Road 69

Freeborn County Road 22/Bridge Avenue

• Reconstruction, including underground utilities, approximately 1.2 miles

• From U.S. Highway 65 to Hammer Road

Freeborn County Road 22

• Widen road, approximately one-fourth of a mile

• Near Hoeger Lane

Freeborn County Road 25

• Micro-mill and micro-surfacing, approximately four miles

• From Freeborn County Road 26 to Freeborn County Road 30

Freeborn County Road 25

• Mill and overlay, approximately six miles

• From Freeborn County Road 30 to Mower County line

Freeborn County Road 32

• Mill and overlay, approximately one mile

• From Iowa border to Freeborn County Road 1

Freeborn County Road 46

• Two-foot paved shoulders, rumble stripe and safety wedge

• From Faribault County line to Freeborn County Road 6

Freeborn County Road 47

• Micro-mill and micro-surfacing, approximately one mile

• Freeborn County Road 45 to north county line

Freeborn County Road 51

• Micro-mill and micro-surfacing, approximately three miles

• Powers Avenue in Alden to Freeborn County Road 12

Freeborn County Road 71

• Micro-mill and micro-surfacing, approximately 2.5 miles

• Freeborn County Road 17 to Freeborn County Road 46