June 5th - Construction Update

In the last three weeks there has been a lot of progress on the underground utilities on the project. Crews have finished installing the storm sewer for this phase of construction and the storm sewer boxes will be finalized in the coming days. The box culvert between Kwik Star and Casey's has been extended to the north and south. With the box culvert being extended it has allowed the temporary access road on the north side of Willow Street to be extended to the east toward Sanford's entrance. The relocation of the temporary access road will allow the contractor to grade, prepare, and ultimately place the new concrete roadway adjacent to the existing roadway.

Box Culvert Extension (North Side)

The grading work along Willow Street on Phase 1 (Roundabout to Honeysuckle) is well underway and is scheduled to be completed in the coming week. Once the roadway has been shaped the subgrade will be treated with cement to form the base of the roadway. Cement powder will be mixed into the top 12" of the subgrade and allowed to harden. Once the cement treated base has hardened the contractor will place a layer of gravel that will go between the cement treated base the concrete roadway. This gravel layer will be shaped and compacted and then the concrete roadway can be constructed.

Grading Work on Willow Street (Looking West)

The improvements that have been made within the roadway is the replacement of the sanitary sewer main, installation of storm sewer, and minor water main adjustments/additions. There have also been private utilities that have been relocated throughout the work area as well, including fiber lines, power lines, and gas lines. The upcoming improvements to be made will be the concrete roadway, concrete sidewalk, landscaped medians, street lighting, general restoration, and seeding.

Temporary Access Road Construction

There is a schedule tab on this website the shows the general schedule of the project. Work is still on track to be completed within the dates laid out in the schedule. Phase 3 (Willow Street west of Honeysuckle) will not begin until Phase 1 and Phase 2 (Willow Street from the Roundabout to the east side of Honeysuckle Ave) is completed and the roadway is open for traffic. Phase 3 work will include storm sewer improvements, water main modifications, concrete roadway, concrete sidewalk, and restoration and landscaping from Honeysuckle Ave to about 350 feet west. Phase 3 of construction will also include sanitary sewer improvements from just east of Tiger Way to Minnesota Ave as well as the addition of a left turn lane for eastbound traffic. The sanitary sewer work in this portion of the project will take place in the north ditch outside of the roadway section.

There have been a few questions regarding work west of Minnesota Ave on 273rd Street (Willow Street). There has been private utility work that has occurred and will continue to take place in the coming weeks. The county also has a road sealing project that will be upcoming. Lastly, Phase 4 of construction (August timeframe) the center turn lane on 273rd Street west of Minnesota Ave will be extended with this project.

In the coming weeks the Willow Street roadway will start to take shape. The subgrade will be graded and shaped, cement treated, and gravel placement will commence. Soon after the gravel placement the concrete roadway construction will begin.