Many road projects slated in Albert Lea and surrounding area

 

Albert Lea and the surrounding area is expected to have a busy construction season.

Some of the largest projects include the extension of sewer and water to the Stables area and the resurfacing of portions of Interstate 90 in Freeborn County.

Across the state, there are 221 road and bridge projects planned for construction this season organized through the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Transportation Commissioner Margaret Anderson Kelliher said in a press release last year the projects will help maintain the state’s roads and bridges, improve safety for motorists and support thousands of construction jobs across the state.

Despite the slated construction program, Anderson Kelliher said the long-term transportation funding picture remains bleak compared to the state’s overall needs. Many of this year’s projects have been in the planning process for several years.

Looking ahead, MnDOT projects an $18 billion deficit in funding over the next 20 years, which will hinder the agency’s ability to maintain current assets, improve safety or plan ahead to meet the needs of Minnesota’s growing population, the release states.

“These projects are critical investments in our aging infrastructure, but there are also more than 500 more projects across the state that are waiting for funding,” Anderson Kelliher said. “Without additional revenue for transportation, our roads and bridges will continue to deteriorate and our overall system and economy will suffer.”

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

 

Albert Lea road projects

NW sewer and water extension improvements —Stables area

• Belgrade Drive, North Trail, East Trail, West Trail, Elm Street and Country Club Road

• Estimated cost: $2,964,219

• Earliest start: In progress

• Completion: November with final lift of pavement early summer

Johnson Street

• Valley Avenue to North Shore

• Estimated cost: $739,644

• Completion: Final lift of pavement scheduled for spring

Downtown parking lot

• At corner of St. Mary Avenue and Main Street

• Reconstruction

• Estimated cost: $216,860

• Completion: Majority of work completed in 2018; stormwater pond and paint striping remain for 2019

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

• Reconstruction

• Estimated cost: Not yet awarded

• Earliest start: mid-May

• Completion: Nov. 1, with final lift of bituminous spring 2020

Newton Avenue

• Reconstruction and concrete rehabilitation

• Estimated cost: Not yet awarded

• Earliest start: late May

• Completion: November

U.S. Highway 69

• Minnesota Highway 13 to Front Street

• Watermain replacement project

• Estimated cost: Not yet awarded

• Earliest start: June

• Completion: Oct. 15

214th Street

• Watermain installation and gravel road reconstruction

• Estimated cost: Not yet awarded

• Earliest start: June

• Completion: Oct. 15

Morin Park area

• Euclid Avenue, alley and West Main Street

• Cured in place pipe

• Estimated cost: Not yet awarded

• Earliest start: June

• Completion: Oct. 15

Pearl Street

• Changing to back-in parking and making the road a one-way

• Estimated cost: Not yet awarded

• Earliest start: June

• Completed: Fall

 

Freeborn County road projects

Freeborn County will award contracts on the following projects April 16

CSAH 12

• Conger

• Mill and overlay

CSAH 43

• Conger

• Mill and overlay

CSAH 14

• Emmons

• Mill and overlay

Freeborn County Road 76

• Emmons

• Mill and overlay

CSAH 16

• Twin Lakes

• Mill and overlay

CSAH 39

• Twin Lakes

• Mill and overlay

CSAH 41

• Hayward

• Mill and overlay

Freeborn County Road 102

• Hayward

• Mill and overlay

CSAH 36 (Freeborn/Mower Road)

• Mill and overlay

CSAH 13

• From U.S. Highway 69 to U.S. Highway 65

• Mill, full depth reclamation, bituminous surface and aggregate shoulders

CSAH 13

• 1.8 miles west of Glenville

• Construct culvert

CSAH 25

• From CSAH 8 to Minnesota Highway 13

• Cold inplace recycle, overlay and aggregate shoulders

CSAH 46

• Near Interstate 90

• Mill and overlay

CSAH 46

• From Interstate 90 to east county line

• Mill, full-depth reclamation, bituminous surface and aggregate shoulders

 

Minnesota state highway projects

Interstate 90

• Resurface westbound lanes with concrete

• From Minnesota Highway 13 near Albert Lea to Freeborn County Road 46

• Cost $16 million to $17 million

• Will be reduced to a single lane in each direction on the eastbound roadway. Select exit ramps from westbound I-90 will be closed and detoured.

Hayward and Oakland Woods rest areas

• Reconstruction of Interstate 90 rest areas; reconstruct and expand truck parking lots; repave existing car parking lots and access maps; reconstruct sidewalks along rest area parking lots; upgrade and expand parking lot lighting systems

• At Hayward eastbound rest area and Oakland Woods westbound rest area

• Cost $4.2 million

• Rest areas will be closed during construction