August 8 Update from MnDOT

Eyes on Main Street - August 9, 2013

Update from MnDOT

This post was never published, so am publishing it today.

The following update came out yesterday from MnDOT.

This week in Spring Grove:

•  Phase 2A detour in place until further notice
• Sanitary sewer, water main and storm sewer work between 1^st Ave SW and 3^rd Ave SW
• Poured curb and gutter between 1^st Ave NW and Division St.
• Pavement removal between 3^rd Ave SW and 3^rd Ave NW
• Sidewalk removal and grading for new sidewalk between 1^st Ave NW and Division St.

Next week in Spring Grove:

• Pour sidewalk from 1^st Ave SW to Division St.
• Remove contaminated material between 3^rd Ave SW to 3^rd Ave NW
• Sanitary sewer, water main and storm sewer work between 1^st Ave SW and 3^rd Ave SW

 Highway 44 from Spring Grove to Highway 52:

• Bituminous paving at box culvert locations this week
• Guardrail installation at box culvert locations next week

New Detour Begins

Eyes on Main Street - August 7, 2013

New Detour Begins

The following was announced last night at the council meeting and just came from MnDOT as an update. (Council meeting update will be posted later today.)

Because of the rain we had during the first two weeks of work, we are running behind schedule. As a result, the Phase 2A detour was put in place Tuesday, August 6^th in order to try and get all the work in front of the school done before school starts back up again this fall.

Westbound Detour

Westbound traffic will turn right at Division St, then left on 1^st St NW and take Railroad Dr. to 2^nd Ave NW, left on 2^nd Ave NW then a quick right onto Goodview Dr. to 5^th Ave NW, then left on 5^th Ave NW to WB Hwy 44.

Eastbound Detour

Eastbound traffic will turn left onto 4^th Ave NW to 2^nd St. NW, right on 2^nd St. NW to 3^rd Ave NW, right on 3^rd Ave NW to 1^st St NW, left on 1^st St NW to Division St., right on Division St. to EB Hwy 44.

Curbing Continues - First Bump Out

Eyes on Main Street - August 5, 2013

Curbing Continues - First Bump Out

Things slowed down last week when the "curb making" machine was needed somewhere else, however, the curb machine was back today and progress was made. The first bump out at the alley by the Ye Olde Opera House was poured. Remember these bump outs are for traffic calming and safety for pedestrians. I can't remember what someone at the meeting called them. Anyone remember? I liked the term better than bump out, maybe it was safety bump.

Pictures from today!

Information, Pictures from this Week, and MnDOT Weekly Update

Eyes on Main Street - August 2, 2013

Information, Pictures from this Week, and MnDOT Weekly Update

I think I better start this post with my name, Saundra Solum, in case anyone has any questions. You can email me at saundy@springgrove.coop. Uffda, there seems to be some rumors flying around about the main street project. I personally haven't heard all of them, but wanted to set some facts straight. If you hear of others, let me know so we can help disseminate the correct information. 

The amenity zone, the unfilled portion of the sidewalk seen in this photo, varies from 2-4 feet in the business district, will be the colored stamped concrete. The color swatch the past council used, was not matched to the existing swatch, so the color we chose came in much darker than originally planned. I personally did not see the color live, but I hear it was a dark brown. A new choice was selected by a few members of the council, more of a terracotta color, which should look fine. 

Remember there were two reasons to have the amenity color different from the regular concrete. The number one reason is safety! We have several sidewalks that cross driveways and the color is another alert to drivers, informing them that they are crossing a sidewalk. For example, at the entrance to the Fitness Center/Library at Spring Grove Communications, Kwik Trip, and Solie's Services. The second minor reason is to break up the look of solid concrete and is purely aesthetic.

The contractor bid included the colored stamped concrete, so it is not adding additional costs to the original bid. I did notice that the stamped concrete is on the council agenda for this coming week and will post information following the meeting. 

Here is photo of the lights that were chosen. The banners and flowers are just shown in this picture as an option, that decision will be up to the current council. The light poles should be a dark bronze - that was the color chosen, and all coordinating railing should also be bronze. We held up both black and bronze actual light pole pieces along main street and found the dark bronze had the best look with all the brick buildings and other building colors, so that color was chosen. The 18' lights are the pedestrian walking lights that will be used in the business district with the taller 25' lights throughout the rest of main street. We also planned to add the lights around the city park (Viking) and school, but that would need to be addressed by the current council. 

I recently saw a photo of main street sometime in the 1950s and the lights are very similar to the style chosen for this project. I believe the photo was in the 2013 Spring Grove Communications phone book, which shows many old photos of Spring Grove Main Street in the first few pages.  

The metal railing, also in bronze, is installed for safety, separating the sidewalk from a parking area. The only exception is the beginning of the business district on the west side of town that has one on the south side for uniformity. 

Here are some photos taken earlier this week, which are posted on the Spring Grove Communications Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/sgcommunications

MnDOT Weekly Update

This week in Spring Grove:

• Placing aggregate base from 1^st Ave. NW to Division St.
• Sanitary sewer, water main and storm sewer work between 1^st Ave. SW and 3^rd Ave. SW
• Pouring sidewalk from 1^st Ave. SW to 1^st Ave. NW
• Sidewalk is CLOSED between 2^nd Ave. NW and Division St.

 Next week in Spring Grove:

• Pour curb and gutter from 1^st Ave. NW to Division St.
• Pouring sidewalk from 1^st Ave. SW to Division St.
• Sanitary sewer, water main, and storm sewer work between 1^st Ave. SW and 3^rd Ave. SW

 Highway 44 from Spring Grove to Highway 52:

• Box culvert replacement will continue between Mabel and Highway 52

Sidewalks!!!

Eyes on Main Street - July 29, 2013

Sidewalks!!!

I attended a meeting at the Ballard House early yesterday evening so was able to see first hand the sidewalk being installed. I walked up the back alley and some of the businesses have really cleaned up there back entrances. I really liked the garden at the Bluff Country Artist Gallery. Also it was easy to spot the Spring Grove Herald with their yard sign. 

Bluff Country Artist Gallery Garden

The unfilled section is the amenity zone, which will be colored stamped concrete.

MnDOT Weekly Update and Photos

Eyes on Main Street - July 26, 2013

MnDOT Weekly Update

Here is MnDOTs weekly update and a few photos from Thursday evening. 

This week in Spring Grove:

• Placing aggregate base from 1^st Ave NW to Division St.
• Pouring sidewalk between 1^st Ave NW and 1^st Ave SW
• Sidewalk is CLOSED between 2^nd Ave NW and Division St.

 Next week in Spring Grove:

• Fine grading aggregate base from 1^st Ave NW to Division St.
• Removing sidewalk from 1^st Ave NW to Division St.
• Pouring curb and gutter from 1^st Ave NW to Division St.
• Sanitary sewer, water main and storm sewer work between 1^st Ave SW and 3^rd Ave SW

Highway 44 from Spring Grove to Highway 52:

• Box culvert replacement will continue between Mabel and Highway 52

The old lights are taken down!

A downpour stopped work early today.

Still working on the curb and gutter.

Curb and Gutter

Eyes on Main Street - July 22, 2013

Curb and Cutter

The curb and gutter plus light pole bases were being poured for the first part of the project. They were trying to complete the cinema entrance to allow the movie to play with a new sidewalk.