MnDOT Update and More Photos

Eyes on Main Street - September 30, 2013

MnDOT Update and More Photos

Here are some photos from this past week. The construction continues with the last phase of the project before the roadway can be finished. It will be a good day in Spring Grove, when the final asphalt is laid. 

Here is the weekly update from MnDOT:

This week in Spring Grove:

• Pouring Ped Ramps
• Sanitary sewer/watermain/storm sewer work at Division Ave. intersection

Next week in Spring Grove:

• Sub cutting and then placing sand and aggregate base from 1^st Ave NE to Division Ave. intersection

Highway 44 from Spring Grove to Highway 52

• Milling bituminous roadway surface from Highway 52 to Spring Grove the week of September, 23^rd
• Paving first lift of bituminous from Underpass Quarry to Spring Grove will begin middle of next week 
• Flaggers and a pilot car will now control Highway 44 single lane traffic

Here are some photos of the finished limestone wall at school and more. 

And remember to check out the Spring Grove Communications facebook page for more photos https://www.facebook.com/sgcommunications and to check out their web cam. The following pictures are from their site:

Council Meeting Update and Weekly MnDOT Update

Eyes on Main Street - September 19, 2013

Council Update

Here is an update from the September 17 Council Meeting. All traffic moves to the south detour starting this week. On Friday the plan is to start on the Division Avenue Intersection, which means that intersection will be closed. There has been a delay in the arrival of 3" rock, which has slowed the construction on the east side. Also there has been a delay in sod due to lack of moisture. Even with these delays, the contractor still feels they can finish most items by the October 30 deadline. Also according to Tim Hruska, city engineer from WHKS, Tuesday night at the council meeting, the cost is still under the projected figure due to some of the savings. A few tree species need to be switched to meet the guidelines of the Tree grant. Also the plan is to still apply for the MnDOT Landscape Partnership Grant for the area plantings. 

There was discussion regarding drainage issues. According to the engineer at the council meeting, not all flooding problems are fixed, but hopefully less likely to occur. We still had to deal with the height of current buildings and ADA specifications, however, the engineers designed the best solution possible. There are now four catch basins in front of the Cinema as well as the larger piping for the overflow. There was some concern about the intersection of 2nd Ave NE, but I have not looked at that section. 

Here are some photos from last night. Also the MnDOT update is below the photos and includes the newest detour map.

The rock we still need.

Not so easy to walk to church.

MnDOT Update for this week

This week in Spring Grove:

• Paving from West termini of project to 3^rd Ave SW
• Move to Phase 3 detour Thursday, September 19^th
• Close Division Ave. intersection
• Hook up temporary water bypass lines
• Remove pavement Division Ave. intersection

 Next Week in Spring Grove:

• Pour curb and gutter East of Division Ave.
• Finish pouring sidewalk and ped ramps West of Division Ave.
• Sanitary sewer, watermain and storm sewer work at the Division Ave. intersection 

 Hwy 44 from Spring Grove to Hwy 52:

• Milling bituminous roadway surface starting Monday, Sept. 23^rd
• Flaggers and a pilot car will now control Highway 44 single lane traffic starting Monday, Sept. 23^rd

Phase 3 Detour started today with the closing of Division Intersection.

Phase 3 Detour

MnDOT Update

Eyes on Main Street - September 18, 2013

MnDOT Update

The following just arrived from Kristin Kammueller, Community Relations/Public Affairs Coordinator from MnDOT District 6. "The following detour will be put in place once paving between 3rd Ave SW and the west end of the project is complete.

Westbound Highway 44 traffic will turn left onto 4^th Ave SE to 2^nd St. SE, right on 2^nd St. SE to 3^rd Ave SE, right on 3^rd Ave SE to 2^nd St. SE, left on 2^nd St. SE to Division Ave., right on Division Ave. to 1^st St. SW, left on 1^st St. SW to 1^st Ave SW, left on 1^st Ave SW to 3^rd Ave SW, then follow 3^rd Ave SW back to WB Hwy 44.

Eastbound Highway 44 traffic will turn right onto 3^rd Ave SW to 1^st Ave SW, left on 1^st Ave SW to 1^st St. SW, right on 1^st St. SW to Division Ave., right on Division Ave. to 2^nd St. SE, left on 2^nd St. SE to 3^rd Ave SE, right on 3^rd Ave SE to 2^nd St. SE, left on 2^nd St. SE to 4^th Ave SE, then follow 4^th Ave SE back to EB Hwy 44."

MnDOT Weekly Update

Eyes on Main Street - September 13, 2013

MnDOT Weekly Update

Here is the weekly update from MnDOT.

This week in Spring Grove:

• Pouring sidewalk and ped ramps 1^st Ave SW to 3^rd Ave NW
• Stone retaining wall by Fire Department and School
• Fine grading agg base in preparation of paving from 3^rd Ave SW to West project termini
• Sub-cutting East of Division Ave.

Next Week in Spring Grove:

• Pave from West termini of project to 3^rd Ave SW
• Switch to Phase 3 detour
• Begin Division Ave. intersection reconstruction

If you have any specific questions regarding work being done in Spring Grove you should contact Tim Hruska at THruska@whks.com. 

Tree Comes Down

Eyes on Main Street - September 10, 2013

Tree Comes Down

After being hit numerous times, the tree outside of Lara and Abe Mendez's house had to be taken down as seen in this photo. It is a very hard corner to make after just going through one prior to it, so if at all possible semis and large equipment should try and detour around Spring Grove. Some vehicles are using the northern route.




Here are two photos from this past weekend. 

MnDOT Update and Photos

Eyes on Main Street - September 6, 2013

MnDOT Update and Photos 

Here is the weekly update from MnDOT. Also many great pictures from Spring Grove Communications. 

This week in Spring Grove:

• Stone retaining wall finished
• Grading and setting forms for sidewalks
• Pouring light bases
• Storm/Sewer/Water main work East of Division Avenue

Next week in Spring Grove:

• Pouring sidewalk and ped ramps
• Storm/Sewer/Water main work East of Division Avenue

Highway 44 from Spring Grove to Highway 52:

• Resurfacing
• Flaggers and a pilot car will now control Highway 44 single lane traffic 

Here are some photos from Spring Grove Communications. If you want to see more of their photos, go to https://www.facebook.com/sgcommunications. 

  

Construction Update and More Photos

Eyes on Main Street - September 5, 2013

Construction Update and More Photos

Wet clay.

The wet spot in front of Kraus Oil was dug up yesterday as seen in this photo, however, it was determined to be just wet clay. 

I had concerns as well as others with the slant of the colored concrete in front of the Spring Grove Communications building. The answer I was given is "the slant was not supposed to be so drastic, but the contractors wanted to eliminate the step up before going to the basement and to assist with water flowage away from the building, which caused more of a slant than originally designed."

Landsom and Mendez corner.

The detour also has taken its toll on some of the roadways, signs, light poles, lawns, and even trees. This photo is the tree on Abe and Lara Mendez's lawn. You will also notice the street sign and missing light pole from the lawn of Steve and Peggy Landsom's lawn. 

The overall project cost has stayed under expected. The engineers negotiated with the light contractor and were able to save about $10,000; there also was a change to some of the pipe sizes for building water supply saving about $20,000; removing the railings saved around $46,000; and it cost around $15,000 to install the extra fabric in the roadway. So everything is below the original budget.

Here an update from Councilmember Nelson from the contractor's meeting held yesterday: "1) Someone from WHKS is regularly around and attends the construction meeting. This week it is Tim Hruska. After the meeting, Tim called Bruce and me over to say that the various deletions and certain changes have reduced costs enough that the change orders (all relatively small) are balanced out. At the present time, there does not appear to have any inroads of any significance into the project's Contingency Fund. He also said that enough of the basic project has been completed with no big surprises so far. Should there be any, there is the $80000 (or more) left in the bond levy money. We should know by early November the status of the remaining funds. Anything left has to go into the repayment fund. But , I'm trying not to count the chickens yet. Tim is optimistic that with the current status  surprises are less likely as each day goes by.   2) The rural part of the project is stated to start September 23 so no pilot cars between here and 52 until then.   3) The bad weather at the beginning gave Mathy a month's delay in their schedule. Work may go on until November.   4) The lights poles are just now being fabricated. The installation is sometime in October. With the roadway in its present condition, the installation couldn't be done yet anyway.   5) The main problem in the east end is that the clay soil is wet and is being hung out to dry, so to speak."

Here are some more photos from yesterday.

Wet spot found to be just wet clay.

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Limestone Wall by School and more Contaminated Soil on East End

Eyes on Main Street - September 4, 2013

Limestone Wall by School and more Contaminated Soil on East End

School started yesterday amid the road construction. The school was proactive and is having two town buses - one picks up at Trinity Lutheran Church and one picks up at the corner of 4th Avenue and 2nd Street NW. The first day was very successful. The stone wall is going up near at the softball fields behind the school.

Limestone wall going up at school.

There is a concern about a wet spot on the west end that the contractor plans to dig up to see why the soil is still so wet. It could just be a area of wet clay, but they want to make sure. There is also a wet area near the cinema, but the contractor feels this area will dry. 

More contaminated soil is found. 

More contaminated soil is being found between the Corner and HIS Business, so it is taking longer to place the new pipes. A question was asked at council last night about when the blacktop would be installed, according to Mayor Poole, blacktop will start once the Highway 44 project starts milling. There may be a small area completed first to allow the detour to open on the south side. 

If you haven't been to town during the evening, her are two more pictures showing how dark it is. Both photos were taken from the Spring Grove Communications Building.

The curbing is all installed.

Looking west towards school.

Looking east toward Trinity Lutheran Church.