North Garden intersection now focus of reconstruction

Construction

project is on schedule

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Work began in earnest in resurfacing the North Garden Street intersection Monday as construction workers merged two lanes of traffic into a single southbound lane.

Marv Kruger, Minnesota Department of Transportation's chief inspector on the U.S. Highway 14 reconstruction project, told those attending Monday's construction update meeting that most of the work from now on will focus on that intersection.

"Everything's going to concentrate on Garden so we can get in and get out" in order to limit the traffic disruption at the intersection, Kruger said.

An M R Paving crew was already "milling" (stripping off the bituminous layers off the northbound lane immediately south of the intersection Monday afternoon. Some 300 feet of Garden Street in either direction from the intersection will be resurfaced, as well.

As a result, there will be no parking for one block south of the intersection.

'I also want people to know that we've reduced the speed limit on (County State Aid) Highway 29 from 45 to 30 (miles an hour) from Highway 14 out because of the construction," Kruger said.

He also noted that businesses along Westridge Road must accessed from Highway 14 "because we've restricted the left turn off of Highway 29" because of the construction.

Meanwhile, work continues on the highway's eastbound lane from Garden to 20th North intersection, as well as bringing the roadway between Ninth North Street to 13th North Street back up to gravel. As segments are brought up to gravel, Kruger explained, then local traffic is permitted.

"When we have it up to gravel from Ninth North to Garden Street (eastbound lane from Garden to 20th North only), then we will start the paving, which should happen around the end of August," said David Domm, Mathiowetz Construction Company vice president and reconstruction project manager.

He said he's expecting that to happen around the first of September.

"After the paving, then we'll switch to the westbound lane (from 20th North to Garden), and that will be paved when we do the final lift (layer) in October."

While he suggested the Garden Street intersection would be paved separately, there was some disagreement on that at the meeting.

"We might have to use Plan B on that one," Mathiowetz' project supervisor, Keith Olson, interjected.

Kruger also had some good news for the city's cemetery staff.

"We should have water to the cemetery possibly by the end of the week," he said. The staff has been using portable chemical toilets and bottled water.

"Overall, I'd say the job is going well. We've been pretty fortunate lately in not having much rain," Kruger added.

"Yes, I believe we're right on schedule," Olson agreed.

Ron Larsen can be reached at rlarsen@nujournal.com.