During the week of May 10 work will start on two highway projects in Freeborn County.

The Freeborn County Highway Department will do a bituminous overlay of County Road 19, better known as South Shore Drive, between U.S Highway 65 and County Road 26, which is about six miles. The second project is County Road 35 from Interstate 35 to County Road 26 through Geneva, about two miles.

“The completion date is set for Sept. 15, but we expect to be done much sooner than that,” County Engineer Sue Miller said.

The contract of a little more than $2 million was awarded to the Ulland Bros. of Albert Lea.

Crews will mill and relay the existing surface and then add a three-inch overlay.

Both roads will be open for traveling to the public, but residents can expect delays. Miller said she hopes all residents travel safely in the working zones.

A bridge, often called the Jugland bridge, was replaced on South Shore Drive last year at a cost of $720,000. Miller said the Highway Department tries to complete bridge and underground culvert projects a year before construction on roads that use new brigdges and culverts.

She said the engineers like to have a freeze-and-thaw cycle completed before they put expensive surfacing on the roads.