Construction Updates
July 10, 2025
The watermain connection to McGregor went well on Tuesday. The lane shift on McGregor will be removed by end of day today. A temporary gravel patch will remain in place until concrete paving takes place. More work in that intersection is expected once storm sewer underground begins. Castor plans to continue watermain work north on Thorington. Alley behind State Street will be closed again for one day, possibly late next week. An update will be sent when the closure time is known.
The grading crew started placing tile, structures and aggregate in the parking lot this week too. Grading work will continue throughout the parking lot in the coming weeks as the weather allows.
Due to Founder’s Day, Castor will not be working on the project Friday or Saturday per the City’s requirements. Enjoy the Founder’s Day festivities!
July 3, 2025
All the Sanitary sewer main and manholes on Thorington are complete. Watermain work will begin Monday at the intersection of Thorington and McGregor Street. With the work a lane shift will be set up to McGregor Street to remain 2-way traffic. No parking will be allowed on McGregor from Hall Street to Dodge Street during the intersection work.
The alley behind State Street is planned to remain open with the temporary Thorington crossing until the watermain installation in that area begins (in approximately two weeks). At that time, another one or two day closure will occur and it will be reopened once work is completed.
With the watermain work in the McGregor Street intersection, a water shutdown has been scheduled for Tuesday, July 8th from 8:30am to around noon. This shutdown only affects the water connections on both sides of McGregor Street between Hall Street and Dodge Street. AMU has hung door notices for the affected homes and businesses.
June 27, 2025
With the rain this week, the temporary gravel alley crossing Thorington closure will now be Monday and Tuesday next week (June 30-July 1). Castor is hopeful they can get the sanitary manhole and main replaced in one day but with the number of utilities in that area they have planned a two day effort. The alley will remain accessible from Dodge Street as a dead end. The temporary gravel crossing will be replaced and reopened for through alley access after the underground is complete.
K&W was able to work on some foundations this week. The rain affected the grading crew’s ability to work, and they will try again next week.
June 20, 2025
Castor has made good progress on the sanitary sewer on Thorington this week, even with the rains. They plan to continue sanitary sewer main north next week. The alley temporary gravel crossing on Thorington will be closed to set the new manhole and connect to the alley sewer mains sometime next week. The forecast is looking wet, so that closure timeline is unknown. More updates to follow.
Castor plans to start work on the parking lot grading, tile and aggregate sections Monday, if the weather allows. K&W Electric has been working on conduit installations in the parking lot and will continue working onsite next week.
June 5, 2025
Pavement removals on Thorington and the alley roof drain work is progressing quickly and will be completed today. With that, the parking lot will be closed starting Friday, June 6, for pavement removals. Please coordinate employee parking and, if possible, let customers know the impact. The city lot at the corner of Nebraska and Moore Street is going to be the best spot for employee parking to keep the most on street parking available.
All current alley disturbance will be graveled back for access by end of day today. Alley access from Dodge Street will be the primary alley entrance point moving forward once the parking lot is closed. Castor plans to place gravel across Thorington Street after pavement removals to exit the alley west down a block to Hall Street.
Castor plans to start work on the sanitary sewer main at the south alley of Thorington Street, Monday, June 9. Sewer usage will not be affected by any of this work.
June 2, 2025
With the rain forecast for tomorrow, pavement removals have been pushed to Wednesday, June 4. Castor is sawing the pavement limits of construction today, so traffic control and closures are also in place along N. Thorington and a portion of Nebraska Street. The parking lot will remain open and accessible from E. Nebraska Street, or the alley coming in from the east off Dodge Street. The access from Dodge Street will be the primary alley entrance point moving forward. Castor plans to place gravel across Thorington Street after pavement removals to exit the alley west down a block to Hall Street.
Minor removals and pipe work are scheduled for the alley this week. Castor plans to install those quickly and gravel the holes back for access. Only minor interruptions are expected, and the parking lot will be accessible for deliveries off Nebraska until the pipe crossings are all complete.
As long as the alley work goes to plan, the parking lot is planned to be closed starting Friday, June 6, for pavement removals. Please coordinate employee parking and, if possible, let customers know the impact. The city lot at the corner of Nebraska and Moore Street is going to be the best spot for employee parking to keep the most on street parking available.
We know access and parking are concerns for many on the project. Please reach out if issues arise that warrant adjustments to the access plan. We thank you for your patience and understanding throughout the construction.
May 30, 2025
Removal limits have been marked out and traffic control devices are stockpiled onsite. Castor Construction, prime contractor for the project, is planning to start saw cutting on Monday, June 2. At this time, just the south block of Thorington is planned to be closed starting Monday. Another update will be sent next week with the date to expect the parking lot and north block of Thorington to close. That will depend on the weather forecast and how fast removals progress. The first underground utility replacement will be the sanitary sewer in the south block of Thorington.
The sidewalk is planned to remain in place for as long as possible for walking access for residents and businesses. Alley access is planned to be maintained, from at least one direction, for the majority of the project. Communication through these eblasts and/or door hangers will be provided for construction closures, water service interruptions, access coordination with businesses and residents, etc. as the project progresses thought each phase of construction.