IT’S A ROAD!

The continuing heavy rains of the past several weeks have continued to impact area road construction projects.

Currently, MnDOT is reconstructing Highway 57 through Mantorville. In conjunction with the state project, the city is installing new storm sewers and doing curb and sidewalk improvements. The state is also resurfacing the pavement on Highway 14 between Kasson and Byron, installing a high-tension cable median barrier between Dodge Center and Kasson and constructing a J-turn at Highway 14 and Dodge County Road 9.

In West Concord, the city is doing utility and street reconstruction work along Irvin Street.              

Construction officials said last week at the weekly information session that the work in Mantorville is progressing despite the rain and the project is expected to be completed in early August. The rainy weather has slowed the work, but the sanitary sewer and sewer work is completed, and crews are now preparing the road.

The contractor, Elcor Construction, is continuing to meet with Mantorville residents and business owners every Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m. at the County Seat to update the community on the project.

Drivers are reminded to stay behind the barricades and not to drive into work zones and to use the detour if your destination is not Mantorville.

Highway 14 has been open throughout the construction although there is one lane traffic is each direction. Vehicles are not be to access Highway 14 from County Road 9 during the construction period. It is anticipated that the J-turn construction will be completed in July, according to MnDOT.

In West Concord, the city is constructing a new watermain and water services on Irvin Street as well as construction of storm sewer and catch basin manhole improvements on both Irvin and Second Streets.

In a recent post on the West Concord Facebook page, Mayor Jeff McCool said that access to Irvin and Second Streets have been slowed by the rainfall and access to homes has been difficult. He wrote that he hoped that weather permitting access will improve in the next several weeks.