Construction Updates

Downtown Improvement Project Construction

September 22, 2023

This past week September 18^th, 2023

The Contractor continued construction within Townsend Park. All the concrete footings have been constructed and visible above ground improvements are anticipated to be the focus going forward.
The Contractor continued installation of electrical conduit and wiring along S Meridian St towards TH 169 this week. The Contractor plans to continue installing streetlights with the downtown area the priority. Approximately 20 lights are awaiting delivery yet expected at the end of October. These lights would be installed in early November along S Meridian St outside the commercial district. The goal is to energize every light as installed but there may be a delay based on where the electricity is being fed from and wiring not complete yet.
The concrete crew was onsite this week and completed most of the sidewalk along S Meridian St between Main St and the end of commercial district.

Upcoming for next week September 25^th, 2023

Monday and Tuesday the Contractor plans to pour the remaining curb and gutter on E Main St from Meridian to Chestnut St. This will mark the completion of all new concrete curb and gutter.
The Contractor is working on the possibility of pouring the colored concrete parking lanes along S Meridian St mid to late week following the completion of the E Main St curb.
The Contractor plans to resume segmental paver installation within the bumpout areas at N Meridian & State and N Meridian & Church. Also, of focus will be paver installation within the boulevard area along S Meridian St between Main St and end of the project.
The concrete crew pouring the concrete sidewalk is not anticipated to be onsite this week and plans to return the following week to focus on new sidewalk along E Main St between Meridian and Chestnut St.
The Contractor plans to continue construction of the proposed improvements within Townsend Park. The focus is expected to be on the west concrete retaining wall and new park entry monument. The new park design is ornate and detailed requiring methodical construction. It is expected that the park improvements could take up to another 6-8 weeks to complete.
The Contractor plans to continue to progress the outstanding improvements along road segments of N Meridian St, Church St, and W Main St. The goal is to bring these roadways to substantial completion, which includes full completion of all bumpout areas, mulched planting beds and installation of the final lift of bituminous pavement by mid to late October.

Project Notes

All roadways currently paved are expected to receive a second and final lift of bituminous pavement before winter.
Weekly construction meetings are scheduled for every Wednesday at 8:00 am in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 218 Meridian St N. The first part of each meeting is open to the public for discussion on schedule and construction concerns.
Please make sure to reach out to Cory Bienfang (Bolton & Menk) at 507-995-2936 or email bpdowntown2023@bolton-menk.com if you are interested in making any sewer or water service improvements.

Past Updates

September 15, 2023

This past week September 11^th, 2023

The Contractor completed the installation and energized most of the streetlights along Church St and N Meridian St. The Contractor plans to continue installing and energizing the streetlights along S Meridian St and E Main St throughout the next several weeks.
The Contractor continued construction of the footings for the new retaining wall within Townsend Park.
The Contractor completed the seeding operation within all disturbed boulevard areas along E Church St and E Main St. Individual door hangers are planned to be delivered next week to all properties along these road segments with instructions on how to care for the new seed.
The road segment of E Main St between Chestnut and Walnut St is planned to remain closed, except for local traffic, until the full reopening of E Main St. The lack of outlet at the Chestnut St intersection and need to maintain the CR 3 detour doesn’t currently support a full reopening of E Main St.
There has been noticeably less construction activity and equipment in the project area. This is not cause for concern, rather it is to be expected with the completion of all underground utility and infrastructure work. Vital elements of the work are still progressing according to schedule. Construction that remains must be properly sequenced by the various trades and sub-contractors. Providing adequate access during construction meant allowing the Contractor scheduling flexibility, where approximately half of the impacted streets in the downtown were to be substantially completed by the end of this year. Ryan Contracting’s approach from the beginning was to employ the resources necessary for most of the work to be substantially complete this year; a decision that everyone who has been impacted surely appreciates. As the days become shorter and fall approaches, your continued patience and cooperation through the final push is greatly appreciated by the Project Team.

Upcoming for next week September 18^th, 2023

Midweek the Contractor plans to pour the remaining curb and gutter on E Main St from Meridian to Chestnut St. This will mark the completion of all new concrete curb and gutter.
The Contactor plans to resume the installation of concrete sidewalk along the road segments of S Meridian St and E Main St. Additionally, the Contractor will be working concurrently to complete all remaining concrete work within the bumpout areas at each of the following intersections: N Meridian & State, N Meridian & Church and W Main & Willow.
The Contractor plans to continue construction of the proposed improvements within Townsend Park. The focus is expected to be on the north and west concrete retaining walls as well as the new park entry monument.

Project Notes

Weekly construction meetings are scheduled for every Wednesday at 8:00 am in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 218 Meridian St N. The first part of each meeting is open to the public for discussion on schedule and construction concerns.
Please make sure to reach out to Cory Bienfang (Bolton & Menk) at 507-995-2936 or email bpdowntown2023@bolton-menk.com if you are interested in making any sewer or water service improvements.

September 8, 2023

This past week September 4^th, 2023

The Contractor completed the roadway subcut and aggregate base installation on E Main St between Meridian St and Chestnut St.
The Contractor completed installation of the streetlights along Church St and N Meridian St. The Contractor is working on energizing these lights and has some lights operational along the east side of N Meridian and E Church St. The remainder of the lights along N Meridian St and W Church St are anticipated to be operational by mid next week.
The Contractor completed the roadway subcut and aggregate based installation within the alley north of Main St between Willow and N Meridian St. This alley is expected to remain open under gravel surfacing until closure for installation of new lighting conduit and permanent concrete/bituminous pavement later this fall.
The Contractor completed the seeding operation within all disturbed boulevard areas along E Church St and E Main St.
The Contractor started construction of the footings for the new retaining wall within Townsend Park.

Upcoming for next week September 11^th, 2023

The Contractor plans to continue construction of the proposed improvements within Townsend Park. The focus is expected to be on construction of the new perimeter concrete retaining wall.
The Contractor expects to finish the installation of the new lighting conduit by directional drilling along S Meridian St. The Contractor plans to continue installation of the new streetlights along this section as well.
The Contractor plans to continue construction of the improvements behind the new curb and gutter on S Meridian St consisting of the structure soil, streetlight bases, electrical conduit, concrete planting beds, and new sidewalk. The goal is to leave S Meridian St open and accessible for customer parking throughout this construction.
The Contractor is working on getting the new concrete curb and gutter scheduled along E Main St between Meridian and Chestnut St.

Project Notes

Weekly construction meetings are scheduled for every Wednesday at 8:00 am in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 218 Meridian St N. The first part of each meeting is open to the public for discussion on schedule and construction concerns.
Please make sure to reach out to Cory Bienfang (Bolton & Menk) at 507-995-2936 or email bpdowntown2023@bolton-menk.com if you are interested in making any sewer or water service improvements.

September 1, 2023

This past week August 28^th, 2023

The Contractor completed the installation of all remaining concrete sidewalk along E Main St between Chestnut and Walnut St.
The Contractor successfully completed the installation of all underground utility work within E Main St between Meridian and Chestnut St. This marks the completion of all underground utility work for the project.
The Contractor completed the roadway subcut and aggregate base installation within the alley north of Main St between N Meridian St and Chestnut St. The alley is expected to remain open under gravel surfacing until closure for installation of new lighting conduit and permanent concrete/bituminous pavement.
The delivery of the new streetlights started this week. The Contractor began installing the new lights along Church St and plans to continue installing lights along Church St, N Meridian St, and W Main St throughout the next couple of weeks.
Centerpoint Gas completed all the gas main work within the alley north of Main St between Willow and Chestnut St this week.

Upcoming for next week September 4^th, 2023

No work will take place on Monday, September 4^th in observance of Labor Day.
The Contractor plans to begin the roadway subcut and installation of the new sand/aggregate base on E Main St between Meridian St and Chestnut St mid to late week.
On Tuesday (9/5) the Contractor plans to begin the roadway subcut and aggregate base installation within the alley north of Main St between Willow and N Meridian St. The goal is to reopen the alley under gravel surfacing by the end of the week.
The Contractor plans to continue construction of the proposed improvements within Townsend Park. The focus is expected to be on construction of the new perimeter concrete retaining wall.
The Contractor plans to continue progress on the installation of the new lighting conduit by directional drilling along S Meridian St. The conduit is planned to be installed between each light base and is estimated to take another two weeks before final completion.
The Contractor plans to start construction of the improvements behind the new curb and gutter on S Meridian St next week consisting of the structure soil, concrete planting beds and new sidewalk. The goal is to leave S Meridian St open and accessible for customer parking throughout this construction.

Project Notes

Weekly construction meetings are scheduled for every Wednesday at 8:00 am in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 218 Meridian St N. The first part of each meeting is open to the public for discussion on schedule and construction concerns.
Please make sure to reach out to Cory Bienfang (Bolton & Menk) at 507-995-2936 or email bpdowntown2023@bolton-menk.com if you are interested in making any sewer or water service improvements.

August 30, 2023

The alley north of E Main St between N Meridian Street and Chestnut Street will be closed on Thursday, August 31st for excavation and aggregate base installation. Access to the Gateway Parking Lot will be provided from E Main Street from either direction on Chestnut Street. The alley will be reopened by the end of day on the compacted gravel surface. Traffic control will be in place to direct vehicles as necessary.

August 25, 2023

This past week August 21^st, 2023

The Contractor successfully re-opened the road segments of E Main St from Chestnut to Walnut St and W Main St from Willow to Meridian St. These segments are expected to remain open through late fall until a brief closure will be necessary to pave the final lift of bituminous.
The Contractor continues to make progress on the new underground utility work within E Main St between Meridian and Chestnut St. The Contractor anticipates being completed with all underground utility work late next week or early the week of Labor Day.
The Contractor completed all remaining concrete sidewalk along E Main St between Chestnut and Walnut St.
The Contractor completed the installation of most of the new concrete curb and gutter on S Meridian St. The Contractor anticipates completing the rest of the curb this coming Monday.
The Contractor resumed installation of the brick segmental pavers along N Meridian St.
Centerpoint Gas continued to make progress on the new gas services within the alley north of Main St between Willow and Chestnut St. The Contractor anticipates being completed with all gas service replacements early next week.

Upcoming for next week August 28^th, 2023

On Monday (8/28) the Contractor plans to complete the remaining concrete curb and gutter on S Meridian St between Main St and end of the commercial district. By mid-week the Contractor plans to reopen this segment of S Meridian St to traffic under gravel surfacing. The intersection of Main and Meridian St will remain closed.
On Monday (8/28) the Contractor plans to reclaim the existing bituminous surface on Chestnut Street from Church St to the alley south of Main St. The reclaim operation will require intermittent closure of Chestnut St throughout the day however plan is to reopen the roadway on either side of Main St under gravel surfacing by end of day. The intersection of Main and Chestnut St will remain closed.
The Contractor plans to continue progress on the new underground utilities within E Main St between Meridian and Chestnut St.
The Contractor plans to finish the boulevard grading and black dirt placement along E Main St between Chestnut and Walnut St by the end of the week. The seeding operation is expected to be completed following completion of all dirt work along these two blocks.
The Contractor plans to start construct of the proposed improvements within Townsend Park.
The Contractor plans to continue progress on the installation of the new lighting conduit by directional drilling along S Meridian St. The conduit is planned to be installed between each light base and is estimated to take another two weeks before completion.
Centerpoint Gas plans to finish the replacement of service lines within the alley north of Main St early in the week. Immediately following the service replacements, the Contractor plans to complete the removal of the old steel gas mains along the north side of the alley between Willow and Chestnut Street. The removal operation is anticipated to be completed by the end of the week. Once completed, the alley will be reopened to traffic under a temporary gravel surface until the City’s contractor constructs the permanent concrete/bituminous surface anticipated in late September.

Project Notes

The anticipated delivery date for the new streetlights is late August. The new electrical system is fully complete on N Meridian and Church St allowing the Contractor to begin installation immediately after delivery with operational streetlights expected in early September.
Weekly construction meetings are scheduled for every Wednesday at 8:00 am in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 218 Meridian St N. The first part of each meeting is open to the public for discussion on schedule and construction concerns.
Please make sure to reach out to Cory Bienfang (Bolton & Menk) at 507-995-2936 or email bpdowntown2023@bolton-menk.com if you are interested in making any sewer or water service improvements.

August 25, 2023

Chestnut Street from the intersection of Church Street to the alley south of Main Street will be closed intermittently for bituminous reclamation on Monday, August 28^th. Following completion of the reclaim operation, the existing gravel material will be compacted and reopened on either side of Main Street by end of day – the intersection of Chestnut and Main St will remain closed. The alley north of Main St between Willow Street and Chestnut Street will also be reclaimed on Monday. Access to the Gateway Parking Lot will be maintained throughout the day; from Chestnut Street in the morning and then will switch from N Meridian Street in the afternoon. Traffic control will be in place to direct vehicles as necessary.

Past Updates

August 21, 2023

The road segments of W Main from Willow Street to Meridian Street and E Main from Chestnut to Walnut Street are planned to be re-opened to traffic Tuesday, August 22nd. These road segments will be monitored for impacts from the hot temperatures and if any are observed the roadways may need to be suddenly closed until cooler temperatures allow. The intersection of Main Street and Cedar Street is planned to be fully opened to traffic in the north and south directions. The intersection of Main Street and Chestnut Street will be closed for the next few weeks. Expect continued construction work on E Main Street consisting of concrete sidewalk, boulevard grading, black dirt placement, and seeding. These roadways are expected to remain open through late fall however a brief closure will be necessary to pave the final lift of bituminous.

August 18, 2023

Week of August 14^th, 2023

The Contractor successfully completed the roadway subcut and installation of the new sand/aggregate base on S Meridian St.
The Contractor successfully completed the application of the final coat of sealer on the colored concrete parking lanes on W Main St and repair area on N Meridian St.
The Contractor completed all remaining concrete steps along N Meridian and Church St.
The Contractor continues to make progress on the new concrete work within the bumpout locations along N Meridian and W Main St.
The contractor made progress on the removals within Townsend Park.
Centerpoint Gas started the replacement of individual gas services within the alley north of Main St between Willow St and Chestnut St.

Week of August 21^st, 2023

On Monday (8/21) the Contractor plans to pave the first lift of bituminous on E Main St from Chestnut to Walnut St and W Main St from Willow to Meridian St. The paving operation was delayed due to the rain last week. The target is to reopen these segments of roadway to vehicle traffic on Tuesday, August 22^nd. Once reopened these segments are expected to remain open through late fall until the paving of the final lift of bituminous.
On Monday (8/21) the Contractor plans to begin the installation of the new underground utilities within E Main St between Meridian and Chestnut St. The focus will be on installing the new mainline sanitary sewer followed by the installation of the new water main. Also, on Monday the Contractor plans to convert the properties along this block over to the temporary water system. Specifics of the conversion were provided in a physical door hanger delivered to the affected properties.
On Tuesday (8/17) the Contractor plans to pour the new concrete curb and gutter on S Meridian St from Main St to the end of the commercial district. Also, on Tuesday the Contractor plans to conduct a planned water shutdown along Chestnut Street to prepare for the start of the watermain replacement along E Main St. Specifics of the shutdown were provided in a physical door hanger delivered to the affected properties.
The Contractor plans to resume installation of the brick segmental pavers focusing on the boulevard areas on the 100 Block of N Meridian and the bumpout areas along N Meridian and W Main St.
The Contractor plans to begin the installation of the new lighting conduit by directional drilling along S Meridian St. This work was delayed one week due to the rain last week. The conduit is planned to be installed between each light base and is estimated to take up to three weeks to complete.
Centerpoint Gas plans to finish the replacement of service lines within the alley north of Main St this week. Following the successful service replacements, the final operation is to remove the old steel gas main anticipated by the end of the week. Following the removal operation, the alley will be reopened to traffic under a temporary gravel surface until the City’s contractor constructs the permanent concrete/bituminous surface anticipated in late September.

Project Notes

The anticipated delivery date for the new streetlights is late August. The new electrical system is fully complete on N Meridian and Church St allowing the Contractor to begin installation immediately after delivery with operational streetlights expected in early September.
Weekly construction meetings are scheduled for every Wednesday at 8:00 am in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 218 Meridian St N. The first part of each meeting is open to the public for discussion on schedule and construction concerns.
Please make sure to reach out to Cory Bienfang (Bolton & Menk) at 507-995-2936 or email bpdowntown2023@bolton-menk.com if you are interested in making any sewer or water service improvements.

August 11, 2023

Week of August 7^th, 2023

The Contractor successfully completed the installation of all new underground utility work on S Meridian St.
The Contractor successfully completed the pouring of the colored concrete parking lanes on W Main St between Willow and Meridian St. The target is to re-open this segment of roadway the week of August 21^st following the final application of sealer.
The Contractor completed the repair of the colored concrete pavement on the 200 Block of N Meridian Street. The repair area is targeted to be re-opened to vehicle traffic the week of August 21^st following the final application of sealer.
The Contractor continues to make progress on the new concrete sidewalk along E Main Street between Chestnut and Walnut St.
The Contractor continues to make progress on the new concrete work within the bumpout locations along N Meridian and W Main St.
Centerpoint Energy completed the gas main replacement within the alley north of Main St between N Meridian and Willow St.

Week of August 14^th, 2023

On Monday (8/14) the Contractor plans to close the road segment of E Main St from Meridian St to Chestnut St to complete the pavement removals. See the updated turning movements map for more information. The intersection of Main and Chestnut St is expected to remain open from the north and south directions to the extent possible. The intersection will be required to be closed for a couple of hours mid-week to complete the pavement removal and then will be immediately reopened under gravel. No underground utility work is expected on the 100 Block of E Main St until the week of August 21^st.
The Contractor plans to continue construction of the roadway subcut and installation of the new sand/aggregate base on S Meridian St. The Contractor is targeting getting the new concrete curb and gutter poured on S Meridian St immediately following the completion of the aggregate base.
On Thursday (8/17) the Contractor plans to pave the first lift of bituminous on E Main St from Chestnut to Walnut St and W Main St from Willow to Meridian St. The target is to reopen these segments of roadway to vehicle traffic the week of August 21^st. Once reopened these segments are expected to remain open through late fall until the paving of the final lift of bituminous.
The Contractor plans to continue removals within Townsend Park to allow for installation of the new park improvements.
The Contractor plans to continue construction under live traffic of the bumpouts and brick pavers along N Meridian St.
The Contractor plans to begin the installation of the new lighting conduit by directional drilling along S Meridian St. The conduit is planned to be installed between each light base and is estimated to take up to three weeks to complete.
Centerpoint Energy plans to continue gas main replacement within the alley north of Main St. The Contractor will be working within the alley at both the Willow St and Chestnut St intersection early next week to finish the connections. Then starting mid-week, the Contractor plans to start replacing service lines which is expected to continue into the week of August 21^st. Following successful completion of all services the final operation is to remove the old steel gas mains. Following the removal operation, the alley will be reopened to traffic under a temporary gravel surface until the City’s contractor constructs the permanent concrete/bituminous surface.

Project Notes

The anticipated delivery date for the new streetlights is late August. The new electrical system is fully complete on N Meridian and Church St allowing the Contractor to begin installation immediately after delivery with operational streetlights expected in early September.
Weekly construction meetings are scheduled for every Wednesday at 8:00 am in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 218 Meridian St N. The first part of each meeting is open to the public for discussion on schedule and construction concerns.
Please make sure to reach out to Cory Bienfang (Bolton & Menk) at 507-995-2936 or email bpdowntown2023@bolton-menk.com if you are interested in making any sewer or water service improvements.

August 11, 2023

The road closure of E Main Street from Meridian Street to Chestnut Street is planned for Monday, August 14th. The intersection of Main and Chestnut will remain open to north-south traffic early next week and to the extent possible during the remaining work on E Main St. The target is to re-open E Main Street from east side of Chestnut St to Walnut St and W Main St from Willow St to Meridian St the week of August 21st. Once reopened these road segments will remain open through late fall when a brief closure will be necessary to pave the final lift of bituminous.

August 9, 2023

The colored concrete pavement being repaired along the road segment of N Meridian Street from State Street to Church Street is anticipated to require late night saw cutting Thursday, August 10th. The specific hours of the saw cutting are not known but expected to be during the overnight hours. The saw cutting time window is a function of providing the newly poured concrete sufficient cure time to allow saw, but not so long that the concrete has hardened too much and begins to crack in random locations. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in making appropriate accommodations to account for this construction activity.

August 4, 2023

Week of July 31:

The Contractor completed the final application of sealer on the colored concrete on N Meridian from Main St to State St and Church St from Willow St to Chestnut St. These four blocks will be re-opened to vehicle traffic today. See the turning movement map for more details. These road segments are expected to remain open through late fall until the paving of the final lift of bituminous.
The Contractor completed the installation of the mainline sanitary sewer on S Meridian St. Currently the Contractor is working on the new sewer/water services and anticipates being completed with all sewer/watermain early next week.
The Contractor poured the new concrete sidewalk along the south side of E Main St from the east side of Chestnut to the west side of Walnut St.
The Contractor continues to make progress on the new concrete work within the bumpout locations along N Meridian and W Main St.
Centerpoint Energy completed the gas main replacement within the alley north of Main St between N Meridian St and Chestnut St.

Week of August 7:

On Monday the Contractor plans to close the road segment of W Main St from Willow St to Meridian St to complete the new colored concrete parking lanes and first lift of bituminous pavement. The target is to re-open this segment of roadway to vehicle traffic the week of August 21^st.
The Contractor plans to finish the sewer/water services on S Meridian St early in the week and then focus on the new storm sewer. The Contractor expects to be working on the roadway subcut and installation of the new sand/aggregate base by end of the week.
The Contractor plans to begin removals within Townsend Park to allow for installation of the new water service and storm sewer in the park.
The Contractor plans to continue construction under live traffic of concrete sidewalk, brick pavers, and pavement repair along N Meridian and Church St.
Centerpoint Energy plans to continue gas main replacement within the alley north of Main St on the west side of N Meridian St between Willow St and N Meridian St. The Contractor anticipates three more weeks of gas main work. Following the gas main replacement, the alley will be reopened to traffic under a temporary gravel surface until the City’s contractor constructs the permanent concrete/bituminous surface.

Project Notes:

The Contractor anticipates starting work on E Main St from Meridian St to Chestnut St the week of August 14^th. The road closure is planned to begin on Monday morning the 14^th. Next week the Contractor will begin installing the temporary water system along this section of roadway.
The road segment of E Main St from east side of Chestnut St to west side of Walnut St is targeted to have the first lift of bituminous paved and be reopened to vehicle traffic by the end of day Friday, August 18^th.
The anticipated delivery date for the new streetlights is late August. The new electrical system is fully complete on N Meridian and Church St allowing the Contractor to begin installation immediately after delivery with operational streetlights expected in early September.
Weekly construction meetings are scheduled for every Wednesday at 8:00 am in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 218 Meridian St N. The first part of each meeting is open to the public for discussion on schedule and construction concerns.
Please make sure to reach out to Cory Bienfang (Bolton & Menk) at 507-995-2936 or email bpdowntown2023@bolton-menk.com if you are interested in making any sewer or water service improvements.

August 4, 2023

The road segment of W Main St from Willow Street to Meridian St will be closed beginning on Monday, August 7th to allow for the completion of the new colored concrete parking lanes and first lift of bituminous pavement. The target is to re-open this block to vehicle traffic the week of August 21st. Once reopened the roadway is expected to remain open through late fall, when a brief closure will be necessary to pave the final lift of bituminous.

August 3, 2023

The road segments of N Meridian from Main Street to State Street and Church Street from Willow Street to Chestnut Street will be re-opened to traffic on Friday, August 4th. Expect continued construction work consisting of concrete sidewalk, brick pavers, pavement repair, lighting and other various amenities to be completed under live traffic with appropriate traffic control. These roadways are expected to remain open through late fall, when a brief closure will be necessary to pave the final lift of bituminous.

July 28, 2023

Week of July 24:

The Contractor completed the paving of the first lift of bituminous paving on N Meridian and Church St. The Contractor was unable to apply the second coat of sealer on the colored concrete pavement due to hot temperatures this past week. The manufacturer recommendations do not suggest application when temperatures are above 90-degrees.
The Contractor poured the new concrete curb and gutter on E Main St east of Chestnut to the west side of Walnut St.
The Contractor completed the removals on S Meridian St from Main St to the end of the commercial district. Immediately following the removals, the Contractor was successful in completing the installation of the new water main.
The Contractor resumed concrete sidewalk work focusing on the bumpout locations along N Meridian and W Main St.

Week of July 31:

On Tuesday the Contractor plans to apply the second coat of sealer on the colored concrete pavement. The Contractor plans to apply the sealer block by block to allow for reopening of individual street sections as work is completed. The target is to re-open all four blocks to vehicle traffic by the end of day Friday, August 4^th.
The Contractor plans to continue concrete work on the bumpouts along N Meridian and W Main St.
The Contractor plans to continue with the installation of the new underground utilities within S Meridian St. The focus this week will be on the new sanitary sewer followed by the sewer and water services. The Contractor anticipates being completed with all the utilities in S Meridian early the week of August 7^th.
The Contractor plans to begin removals within Townsend Park to allow for installation of the new water service and storm sewer in the park.
On Monday Centerpoint Energy plans to begin gas main replacement within the alley north of Main St on either side of Meridian St from Willow to Chestnut St. The work is planned to focus on the east end of the alley first to allow for pedestrian access from the parking lot to Meridian St until N Meridian is reopened. The total gas main project is anticipated to take four weeks to complete.

Project Notes:

The Contractor anticipates starting work on E Main St from Meridian to Chestnut St the week of August 7^th.
The anticipated delivery date for the new streetlights is late August. The new electrical system is fully complete on N Meridian and Church St allowing the Contractor to begin installation immediately after delivery with operational streetlights expected in early September.
Weekly construction meetings are scheduled for every Wednesday at 8:00 am in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 218 Meridian St N. The first part of each meeting is open to the public for discussion on schedule and construction concerns.
Please make sure to reach out to Cory Bienfang (Bolton & Menk) at 507-995-2936 or email bpdowntown2023@bolton-menk.com if you are interested in making any sewer or water service improvements.

July 21, 2023

Week of July 17:

The Contractor poured the remaining-colored concrete parking lanes on N Meridian and E Church St.
The Contractor completed the installation of the sand and aggregate base within the Block 91 alley.
The Contractor completed the utility work within the intersection of Main and Meridian St. Additionally, the Contractor was able to finish the installation of the sand and aggregate base and re-open the intersection to east-west traffic along Main St today. Click here for link to the current turning movement map.

Week of July 24:

On Monday the roadway closure of S Meridian St from Main St to the end of the commercial district is planned. Initial operations will include pavement removals and underground utility work. The temporary water main has passed the required bacteria testing, and properties are anticipated to start being hooked up to the temporary system on Wednesday. Physical door hangers with more information will be delivered to all affected properties on Monday.
Also on Monday is the anticipated paving of the first lift of bituminous pavement on sections of N Meridian and Church St. The current target is to re-open these four blocks to vehicle traffic by the end of day Friday, July 28^th.
On Tuesday the Contractor plans to pour the new concrete curb and gutter on E Main St east of Chestnut to west side of Walnut St. Concrete sidewalk and driveway aprons will follow placement of the concrete curb and gutter for these two blocks.
The Contractor plans to continue progress on the bumpouts consisting of colored concrete and pavers throughout the next couple of weeks.
The Contractor plans to begin removals within Townsend Park.

Project Notes

Weekly construction meetings are scheduled for every Wednesday at 8:00 am in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 218 Meridian St N. The first part of each meeting is open to the public for discussion on schedule and construction concerns.
Please make sure to reach out to Cory Bienfang (Bolton & Menk) at 507-995-2936 or email bpdowntown2023@bolton-menk.com if you are interested in making any sewer or water service improvements.

July 20, 2023

The roadway closure of S Meridian St from Main St to the end of the commercial district is planned for Monday, July 24th. Prior to that closure, the intersection of Main and Meridian St will re-open to east-west traffic under gravel surfacing. Main St from Willow St to Chestnut St shall remain open until N Meridian St and Church St are re-opened.

July 14, 2023

This week the Contractor was able to complete the majority of the new sidewalk along W Main St. The Contractor plans to continue to make progress on the boulevard pavers and bumpouts along N Meridian and W Main St over the next couple of weeks. The Contractor was successful in completing all but one of the colored concrete parking lanes on N Meridian St this week. The final parking lane on the 200 Block of N Meridian and the two on E Church St are planned to be poured Monday and Tuesday next week. The paving of the first lift of bituminous pavement on N Meridian and Church St is expected to be delayed until the week of the 24^th in order to allow for 7-days cure on all the colored concrete parking lanes.

The Contractor is continuing to make progress on the Block 91 alley. The majority of the storm sewer was installed this week with just one structure on the north south portion remaining. This structure is planned to be completed early next week. Additionally, the Contractor started the installation of the new sand and aggregate base getting the majority of the north south portion of the alley completed. Early next week the Contractor plans to focus on completing the installation of the sand and aggregate base along the west/east portion.

Next week Tuesday the Contractor plans to close the intersection of Main and Meridian St. View the turning movement map. Only the intersection will be closed in order to allow the Contractor to extend the utilities through the intersection to the south and east sides. Prior to the intersection closure W Main St between Willow and the west side of Meridian will be reopened under gravel to allow for local business access and parking. The roadway portion of S Meridian and E Main St between Meridian and Chestnut will remain open. A watermain shutdown is planned for Tuesday, July 18^th from noon to 5 pm related to work within the Main & Meridian St intersection and door hangers were hand delivered to affected properties today.

Also, next week the Contractor plans to start the installation of temporary water along S Meridian St. It is anticipated that work will begin on S Meridian St the week of July 24^th after the reopening of N Meridian and Church St. Road closure and the start of work on E Main St is planned to take effect after S Meridian St.

Weekly construction meetings are scheduled for every Wednesday at 8:00 am in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 218 Meridian St N. The first part of each meeting is open to the public for discussion on schedule and construction concerns.

Please make sure to reach out to Cory Bienfang (Bolton & Menk) at 507-995-2936 or email bpdowntown2023@bolton-menk.com if you are interested in making any sewer or water service improvements.

July 13, 2023

Construction Update at intersection of Main & Meridian St

The intersection of Main and Meridian St will be closed starting at 6:30 am Tuesday, July 18th. The closure of the intersection is to allow for the extension of the new utilities beyond the footprint of the intersection. Prior to the intersection closure the block of W Main St from Willow St to the west side of Meridian St will re-open to traffic under gravel surfacing. W Main St, along with S Meridian St and the 100 Block of E Main St will remain open until N Meridian St and Church St are re-opened.

Motorists are encouraged to stay alert and drive carefully through all work zones. Questions may be directed to the project email: bpdowntown2023@bolton-menk.com. Visit the project website at the link above for additional information.

July 11, 2023

Construction Update at intersection of W Main St & Willow St

The intersection of Main and Willow St will be closed starting at 5:00 pm today, July 11th to allow for final grading and paving of the first lift of bituminous. The intersection will reopen under bituminous pavement with ramped edges no later than 8:00 pm Thursday, July 13th. The final lift of bituminous is planned to be installed along with the rest of the project later this fall.

July 7, 2023

Major progress is continuing to be made on the new concrete work. This week the Contractor was able to complete all the mainline sidewalk along both blocks of Church St and N Meridian St. Additionally, substantial progress was made on the new sidewalk along both sides of W Main St. The Contractor plans to complete the rest of the sidewalk along W Main St early next week. Following the completion of the W Main St sidewalk the Contractor plans to move this concrete crew to another project for a few weeks in order to allow for the completion of the new colored concrete parking lanes. The first colored concrete parking lane on the south side of W Church St was poured today. The remainder of the colored concrete parking lanes along Church St and N Meridian St are planned to be poured next week. It is important to note that the colored concrete receives two applications of sealer, the first application is applied at the time of pouring and the second a minimum of 7-days later. The true color of the pavement is not realized until after the second coat of sealer.

The Contractor plans to work this Saturday, July 8^th, on miscellaneous concrete work along N Meridian and W Main St. The goal is to get the majority of the missing concrete steps poured and other concrete infills completed.

Next week Thursday the intersection of Willow St up to the east side of W Main St is planned to be paved with new bituminous. This intersection is being prioritized in order to support the BBQ Days parade. The paving of the first lift of bituminous pavement on Church St and N Meridian St is planned for late the week of the 17^th. Once paved the Contractor will be focusing on getting these four blocks reopened to vehicle traffic as a requirement before closing the remaining two blocks consisting of E Main St and S Meridian St. It is estimated that this traffic control change would happen that last week of July.

The Contractor was able to successfully test the new watermain within E Main St this week and started converting properties from the temp over to the new permanent watermain today. All the utility work has been successfully completed on E Main St between Chestnut and Walnut St and Contractor is currently working on installing the new sand and gravel within these two blocks.

Early next week the Contractor anticipates finishing the installation of the new gravel within E Main St and then immediately plans to begin work in the Block 91 Alley. The portion of the alley impacted is the north/south portion between W Main St and W Prairie St and the west/east portion between S Willow St and S Meridian St. This work is expected to begin on Tuesday, July 11^th and initially will be focused on the removals and new storm sewer installation. Following the storm sewer, the Contractor plans to complete the installation of the new sand and gravel allowing for the alley to be reopened to local access. It is anticipated this work will take 2-3 weeks to complete. The alley will remain open under gravel until the completion of the new bituminous paving which has not been scheduled yet.

Work on Townsend Park is anticipated to begin any time as well.

Please make sure to reach out to Cory Bienfang (Bolton & Menk) at 507-995-2936 or email bpdowntown2023@bolton-menk.com if you are interested in making any sewer or water service improvements.

July 5, 2023

A road closure and start of construction on the north/south block 91 alley between W Main St and W Prairie St and west/east block 91 alley between S Willow Street and S Meridian St is planned to begin Tuesday, July 11th. Initial operations will include pavement removal and installation of new underground storm sewer.

During construction, the contractor will be responsible for maintaining all garbage and recycling services. If you are in the impacted area, please bring your cans to the edge of your property as you normally would on your respective pickup day and the contractor will ensure the containers are picked up.

It is anticipated that work on Townsend Park will begin around this time also.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this notice, please contact Pat Schroepfer at 507-327-5318.

Please refer to the door hanger notice that was delivered to affected properties for any other information.

June 30, 2023

The Contractor is continuing to make progress on the new concrete work. This week the Contractor was able to finish the majority of the new sidewalk along both sides of Church St and the 100 Block of N Meridian St. The Contractor was also able to start pouring the new sidewalk along the north side of W Main St and plan is to continue pouring the new sidewalk along both sides of W Main St next week.

The Contractor was successful in completing all the new sewer and water services along E Main St between Chestnut and Walnut St this week. Currently the Contractor is testing the new watermain and expectation is that properties will be able to be converted from the temp system over to the new permanent watermain by end of next week. Next week, the Contractor also anticipates completing the rest of the new storm sewer along these two blocks and immediately following plans to begin the construction of the new roadway sand and aggregate base.

Additionally, the Contractor anticipates starting to pour the colored concrete parking lanes along both blocks of Church and N Meridian St the next two weeks. The paving of the first lift of bituminous pavement is anticipated to be completed the week of the 17^th.

No additional roadways are planned to be closed until vehicle access is restored to N Meridian and Church Street. The Contractor has communicated that no work will be completed on Monday and Tuesday, July 3^rd, and 4^th.

Please make sure to reach out to Cory Bienfang (Bolton & Menk) at 507-995-2936 or email bpdowntown2023@bolton-menk.com if you are interested in making any sewer or water service improvements.

We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable 4^th of July!

June 23, 2023

The Contractor is making visible progress on the new concrete work. This week they started pouring the new sidewalk along both sides N Meridian between State and Church St and expect to finish early next week. Also, the sidewalks along both blocks of Church St are almost finished. Starting next week, the Contractor plans to begin pouring the new sidewalk along the 100 Block of N Meridian St. Physical door hangers were hand delivered to the adjacent properties along this block today providing insight into the proposed sequencing for the new sidewalk construction. Following the sidewalk there will be continued work within the bumpouts and boulevard area to pour the concrete base for the pavers and the decorative colored concrete.

All the new concrete curb and gutter along W Main St was completed this week. The Contractor is currently working within the boulevard area behind the curb to install the new structural soil for the landscaping beds and the new electrical/street lighting system. The plan is to start the concrete sidewalk along W Main St after the 100 Block of N Meridian later the week of the 4^th.

Additionally, the Contractor continues to make progress on the new underground utility work along E Main St. All the mainline watermain and sanitary sewer between Chestnut and Walnut St has been installed. Currently, the Contractor is working on the new storm sewer starting at Walnut St and heading west. There is anticipated to be at least another full week of utility work along E Main St to finish the storm sewer up to Chestnut St and permanently reconnect all the services. The Contractor plans to start converting properties from the temp system over to the new permanent main upon successful testing of the new watermain anticipated later next week.

June 16, 2023

The Contractor is continuing to make progress on the concrete work along the 200 Block of N Meridian and both blocks of Church St. The Contractor started pouring the new sidewalk along E Church St this week and plans to continue with construction of the new sidewalk along the 200 Block of N Meridian and both blocks of Church St next week. Physical door hangers were hand delivered to the adjacent properties along these blocks today providing insight into the proposed sequencing for the new sidewalk construction. Additionally, new concrete curb and gutter is anticipated to be poured along the 100 Block of N Meridian and 100 Block of W Main St on Monday and Tuesday next week. Following the new curb, the Contractor will begin working in the boulevard area along these two blocks focusing on the structural soil for the landscaping beds and new electrical/street lighting system.

The Contractor is continuing to make progress with the new underground utilities along E Main St. The new sanitary sewer has been successfully installed between Chestnut and Cedar St. The Contractor anticipates being up to Walnut St early next week. The watermain has been successfully installed between Walnut and Chestnut St. The Contractor anticipates being able to start services late next week for these two blocks of E Main St.

Additionally, utility work consisting of extension of the new utilities further into the intersection of Main and Meridian is planned for Tuesday next week. This work was noticed in a previous email update and physical door hanger that was hand delivered to the whole project corridor today.

All businesses and residential properties within the roadway closure will remain accessible by foot traffic during construction. No scheduled impacts are anticipated to the existing sidewalks along the 100 Block of N Meridian St or 100 Block of W Main St next week. However, we are getting close, and it is anticipated that sidewalk work could start the week of June 26. Notice via a physical door hanger will be provided no less than 24 hours in advance of any sidewalk removal.

The intersection of Main and Meridian St will be restricted along the north and west sides on Tuesday, June 20th starting at 6:30 am until 8:00 pm. The intersection will remain open to ALL traffic from the east and south directions. The impact to the intersection is to allow for the extension of the new utilities beyond the footprint of the new bumpouts along the north and west side of the intersection. The intersection will reopen under gravel surfacing to its full footprint following completion of the utility work.

Please see the utility extension map here for a visual illustration of the impacted area.

June 13, 2023

The intersection of Chestnut and E Main St will be reduced to one lane Wednesday, June 14th starting at 6:30 am. The intersection will remain open to ALL traffic from the north, west, and south directions by use of construction flaggers. The impact to the intersection is to allow for the construction of the new sanitary sewer manhole located within the center of the intersection. The intersection will fully reopen under gravel surfacing to both lanes following completion of the construction anticipated by midafternoon.

Motorists are encouraged to stay alert and drive carefully through all work zones. Questions may be directed to the project email: bpdowntown2023@bolton-menk.com.

June 9, 2023

As of today, the Contractor has successfully completed the underground utilities on both blocks of N Meridian St, both blocks of Church St and W Main St. The Contractor is currently working on the roadway subcut and installation of the draintile, sand, and aggregate base along the 100 Block of N Meridian and 100 Block of W Main St. The Contractor expects to complete this work early next week and then these blocks are ready for new curb and gutter. The contractor is working on getting the concrete work scheduled for these two blocks, but no specific date has been set yet. Also, this week the Contractor was successful in getting the new mainline concrete curb and gutter poured on the 200 Block of N Meridian and both blocks of Church St. On Monday the Contractor plans to work on getting the bumpouts poured at the intersection of N Meridian and Church St and the project tie ins at State St and ends of Church St. Also, next week, the Contractor anticipates starting work within the boulevard area along these blocks consisting of the structural soil for the landscape planting beds and the new electrical/street lighting system.

The road closure of E Main Street from the east side of Chestnut St to the west side of Walnut St is scheduled to start first thing Monday morning, June 12^th (see attached turning movement map). The closure will include the intersection of E Main St and Cedar St. The intersections of Chestnut and E Main St and Walnut and E Main St will remain open. Also, as part of the road closure the official County Road 3 detour is required to be implemented and is proposed to utilize E Commerce Dr and E Main St. A planned water shutdown is scheduled for next Monday, June 12^th to allow for the start of the watermain replacement along E Main St. Specifics of the shutdown were provided in a previous email update and physical door hangers that were delivered to every affected property today.

Also, starting next week will be the gas main replacement work along the north side of E Main St between Chestnut and Walnut St. The gas main work is in support of the City’s project and anticipated to take 2-3 weeks to complete working alongside the City’s contractor.

All businesses and residential properties within the roadway closure will remain accessible by foot traffic during construction. No scheduled impacts are anticipated to the existing sidewalks along N Meridian St or W Main St next week, however we are getting close to where this could change, and we are committed to providing further notice no less than 24 hours in advance of any sidewalk removal.

June 2, 2023

The Contractor successfully completed the underground utilities on the 100 Block of E Church St this week. Also, the Contractor was successful in completing the installation of the new aggregate base within the 200 Block of N Meridian St and 100 Block of W Church St. The Contractor expects to start the installation of the new concrete curb and gutter on these two blocks early next week. Also, next week, the Contractor plans to finish the installation of the underground utilities within the 100 Block of N Meridian St. The early part of the week the Contractor plans to focus on converting properties from the temp system to the new permanent main. Then mid to late next week the utility crew will be focused on the installation of the new storm sewer along N Meridian St between Church and Main St. The Contractor plans to continue to subcut and build the new roadway following the successful completion of the underground work on the 100 Block of E Church St and 100 Block of N Meridian St.

The second utility crew working on W Main St successfully completed the new sanitary sewer and watermain between Willow and Meridian St this week. Early next week the Contractor plans to start the new storm sewer until confirmation of a successful bacteria test on the water main allowing the Contractor to convert properties from the temp system to the new permanent main. Specifics of the water service transfers for both 100 N Meridian St and 100 W Main St were provided in a previous email update and physical door hangers delivered to every affected property today.

Additionally, construction Newsletter No. 5 was distributed by a previous email update and physically delivered to every property within the project area today. The newsletter provided notice of the road closure of E Main St from the east side of Chestnut St to the west side of Walnut St proposed to start first thing Monday morning, June 12^th. The County Road 3 detour will be put in place at this time as well. The intersections of Main and Meridian, Main and Chestnut, and Main and Walnut will remain open. It is acknowledged that maintaining the current level of access into the downtown core is necessary and Contractor is committed to maintaining this level of access until segments north of Main St can be re-opened.

The Contractor plans to start temporary water work within the 200 and 300 Blocks of E Main St next week with goal to have the system ready for the week of the 12^th. Initial operations the week of the 12^th will include pavement removals and conversion of properties from the existing watermain to the temporary system. All affected properties will receive further notice no less than 24 hours in advance of any planned water disruptions.

Also, starting the week of June 12^th, Centerpoint Energy will be working on gas main replacement along E Main St between Chestnut and Walnut St. The gas main work is in support of the City’s project and anticipated to take 2-3 weeks to complete working alongside the City’s contractor.

All businesses and residential properties within the roadway closure will remain accessible by foot traffic during construction. No impacts to the existing sidewalks along N Meridian St are anticipated for another two weeks.

June 2, 2023

Impacts include the following:

Temporary water interruption for individual properties on Monday, June 5th and Tuesday, June 6th from 6:30 am-8:00 pm on the 100 Block of N Meridian Street.
Temporary water interruption for individual properties on Tuesday, June 6th and Wednesday, June 7th from 6:30 am-8:00 pm on the 100 Block of W Main Street.

If you are in the affected area, the contractor will stop by your home/business to coordinate a time and it is anticipated that a short shutdown of up to 1-hour ± will be required to install the new water service and make the switch to the new water main.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this notice, please call Pat Schroepfer at (507) 327-5318.

Thank you for your continual patience and cooperation throughout the process of improving your street and utilities!

May 26, 2023

The Contractor successfully completed the new underground utilities within the 200 Block of N Meridian St and the 100 Block of W Church St this week. Next week the Contractor still needs to complete a small amount of new storm sewer on the 100 Block of E Church St. Also, next week, the Contractor plans to begin subcutting the roadway and installing the draintile, sand, and aggregate base within these three blocks. The Contractor has the concrete crew scheduled to pour the new curb and gutter along these three blocks starting the week of June 5^th. Due to the narrower width of the concrete sidewalk along the west and east block of Church St, it is expected that the existing concrete sidewalk will be required to be removed next week to allow for the construction of the new curb and gutter. In the sidewalk location a firm gravel surface will remain to allow for pedestrian access.

Two planned water main shutdowns are scheduled for next week. The first shutdown is along the 100 Block of N Meridian St between Church St and Main St scheduled for Tuesday, May 30^th. The second shutdown is along W Main St between Market St and Meridian St scheduled for Wednesday, May 31^st. Specifics of the shutdown were provided in a previous email update and physical door hangers were delivered to every affected property yesterday.

The Contractor has already installed the new sanitary sewer within the 100 Block of N Meridian St, so after the water shutdown on Tuesday, the Contractor plans to complete the installation of the new watermain and storm sewer within this block.

The road closure of W Main St between Meridian St and Willow St is proposed to start first thing Tuesday morning, May 30^th(see attached turning movement map). The closure will include the intersection of W Main St and Willow St. No work or traffic impact is planned for the intersection of Meridian and Main St. The initial operation after the road closure on Tuesday will be the pavement removal followed by the conversion of the properties over to the temporary water system as part of the shutdown on Wednesday. Immediately following the shutdown, the Contractor plans to focus on the installation of the new sanitary sewer heading west to east along the 100 Block of W Main St.

All businesses within the roadway closure will remain open and accessible by foot traffic during construction. No impacts to the existing sidewalks along N Meridian are anticipated for at least the next two weeks yet.

Please make sure to reach out to Cory Bienfang (Bolton & Menk) at 507-995-2936 or email bpdowntown2023@bolton-menk.com if you are interested in making any sewer or water service improvements.

May 25, 2023

As a function of the need to fully replace the watermain, properties in the project area will need to be transferred over to a temporary water supply system. Please see the water shutdown map for more information on the impacted areas.

Impacts include the following:

A water shutdown on Tuesday, May 30th from 8:00 am-5:00pm on N Meridian Street between Main Street and Church Street.
A water shutdown on Wednesday, May 31th from 8:00 am-12:00pm on W Main Street between Willow Street and Market Street.
A water shutdown on Wednesday, May 31st from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm on W Main Street between Willow Street and Meridian Street.

Water will be restored to individual properties immediately as each conversion is completed.

These times are approximate and could change due to weather, construction schedule, or other unforeseen difficulties. Property owners will receive further notice if such changes occur.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this notice, please call Pat Schroepfer at (507) 327-5318.

Thank you for your continual patience and cooperation throughout the process of improving your street and utilities!

May 19, 2023

The Contractor successfully completed the new water main installation within the 200 Block of N Meridian St, the 100 Block of W Church St and the 100 Block of E Church St this week. Immediately following the installation, the Contractor successfully executed the bacteria and pressure testing, allowing for the new water main to be put back into service. The Contractor intends to start converting properties along the 200 Block of N Meridian St, the 100 Block of W Church St and the 100 Block of E Church St from the temporary water system to the new permanent water main during regular working hours (6:30 AM to 8:00 PM) on Monday, May 22^nd and Tuesday, May 23^rd. Short interruptions to water service will be required during this conversion and physical door hangers were delivered to each affected property today with additional information.

Next week, after the installation of the new water services, the Contractor plans to continue working in the same three blocks to complete the installation of the new storm sewer. The Contractor anticipates approximately two days to complete the new storm sewer up to the intersection of N Meridian and Church St. The Contractor has also completed the installation of all the new sanitary sewer within the 200 Block of N Meridian St and both blocks of Church St. Following the installation of all new underground utilities the Contractor plans to immediately start grading and installing the new roadway sand and gravel.

The Contractor still needs to conduct a water shutdown for the 100 block of N Meridian between Church and Main St. to convert properties over to the temporary water system. No specific date has been set yet and at the earliest it is anticipated to be late next week. More likely is that the shutdown will be right after Memorial Day. All affected properties will receive further notice no less than 24 hours in advance of the planned day and time.

The Contractor has requested the opportunity to mobilize a second utility crew to aid in forward progress. The area proposed for this second utility crew is the one block section of W Main St between Meridian and Willow St. The road closure is proposed to start first thing Tuesday morning, May 30^th and will include the full closure of the W Main and Willow St intersection. No work is planned within the intersection of Meridian and Main St at this time and the intersection will remain fully operational from the south and east directions.

All businesses within the roadway closure will remain open and accessible by foot traffic during construction. No impacts to the existing sidewalks along N Meridian St are anticipated for several more weeks yet. The sidewalk along Church St is more difficult to maintain based on the narrower width between the building and back of curb, however no impact to this sidewalk is anticipated next week.

May 19, 2023

The City’s contractor, Ryan Contracting Co, has finished installing and testing the new water main along the blocks listed below. Based on the successful pressure and bacteria testing, the new water main is ready for connection of each individual service line. The Contractor intends to start converting properties from the temporary water system to the new permanent water main along the 200 Block of N Meridian, 100 Block of W Church St and 100 Block of E Church St during regular working hours (6:30 to 8:00 pm) on Monday, May 22^nd and Tuesday, May 23^rd.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this notice, please call Pat Schroepfer at (507) 327-5318.

May 12, 2023

The Contractor successfully completed the new sanitary sewer installation within N Meridian St between Church and Main St this week. The contractor stopped on the north side of Main St and made a temporary connection to the existing sanitary sewer. This connection will be removed and the new main extended into the intersection of Meridian and Main St as part of the next phase.

The Contractor also successfully installed the temporary water system this week. All the water services along the 200 block of N Meridian between State and Church St have been converted over to the temporary system. The two blocks of Church St are planned to be connected to the temporary system as part of a water shutdown scheduled for this coming Monday, May 15^th. Specifics of the shutdown were provided in a previous email update and physical door hanger delivered to each affected property today. The remaining 100 block of N Meridian between Church and Main St is anticipated to be converted over to the temporary system sometime the week of the 22^nd. No specific date has been set yet and all properties will receive further notice no less than 24 hours in advance of the planned day and time.

It is expected the Contractor will continue installing the new water main within N Meridian St between State and Church St next week. Following the successful installation of the new watermain, the contractor is required to perform both pressure and bacteria testing prior to connecting the new water services. While this testing is being performed, the Contractor anticipates focusing on the new sanitary sewer and watermain installation within both blocks of Church St.

Additional updates from this past week are as follows:

The existing decorative streetlights located along Main St (both west and east blocks) and along S Meridian St were reenergized this week. Due to the reconfigured wiring the lights are required to remain on continuously, but goal was to reestablish lighting in the downtown areas not actively under construction.
10 solar streetlights were installed this week throughout the project area. These lights are portable and able to be moved around as needed. The intent is that these lights are used to supplement lighting in the downtown within and around the project area throughout the construction this summer.
All road closed barricades were moved to the perimeter of the construction area for this first phase effectively eliminating all the soft closure areas. It is anticipated that the barricades will remain in this configuration for the next 6-8 weeks.

All businesses within the roadway closure will remain open and accessible by foot traffic during construction.

May 12, 2023

Impacts include the following:

A water shutdown on May 15th from 8:00 am-12:00pm for the intersection of E Church Street and Chestnut Street.
A water shutdown on May 15th from 12:00-4:00pm for the intersection of W Church Street and Willow Street.

Water will be restored to individual properties immediately as each conversion is completed.

These times are approximate and could change due to weather, construction schedule, or other unforeseen difficulties. Property owners will receive further notice if such changes occur.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this notice, please call Pat Schroepfer at (507) 327-5318.

Thank you for your continual patience and cooperation throughout the process of improving your street and utilities!

May 10, 2023

As a function of the need to fully replace the watermain, properties in the project area will need to be transferred over to a temporary water supply system.

Initial impacts include a planned water shutdown on May 11^th from 9:30am-10:30am for the 100 block of North Meridian and from 9:30am-1:00pm for the 200 block of North Meridian. Water will be restored to individual properties immediately as each conversion is completed.

These times are approximate and could change due to weather, construction schedule, or other unforeseen difficulties. Property owners will receive further notice if such changes occur.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this notice, please call Pat Schroepfer at (507) 327-5318.

Thank you for your continual patience and cooperation throughout the process of improving your street and utilities!

May 5, 2023

Read the latest construction newsletter to learn more about an authorized adjustment to include the replacement of the existing watermain with the 2023 Downtown Improvements.

It is expected that the Contractor will start preparations for the temporary water system first thing Monday morning. The temporary water system will be limited to the project area under construction at any one time. Additional information pertaining to the specifics of the temporary system and timing of any service interruptions will be provided to each affected property once available. The actual transfer of water services from the existing city main to the new temporary system is not anticipated until late next week at the earliest.

The Contractor successfully completed the new sanitary sewer installation within N Meridian St between State and Church St this week. The contractor has installed the new sanitary sewer manhole at the intersection of N Meridian and Church St and made temporary connections to the existing sanitary sewer to the west, east, and south. The Contractor finished the week with the installation of the new storm sewer at the north end of N Meridian St near State St.

Next week the Contractor anticipates continuing the installation of the new sanitary sewer within N Meridian St heading south towards Main St. This will allow time for the temporary watermain to be put into operation at which point the Contractor expects to begin replacement of the old watermain within N Meridian St starting at State St and heading south.

All businesses within the roadway closure will remain open and accessible by foot traffic during construction.

Please make sure to reach out to Cory Bienfang (Bolton & Menk) at 507-995-2936 or email bpdowntown2023@bolton-menk.com if you are interested in making any sewer or water service improvements.

April 28, 2023

The Contractor successfully started construction this week. The work this week focused on the reclaim of the existing bituminous pavement on N Meridian St between State St and Main St and Church St between Willow St and Chestnut St. The Contractor also started the new sanitary sewer installation this week within the 200 block of N Meridian St starting at State St and working south. The Contractor plans to complete work block by block to start with and anticipates having all the new sanitary sewer main completed within this first block by early next week. Immediately following the sanitary sewer, the contractor plans to complete the new sewer service work and finish with the new storm sewer. The Contractor anticipates being complete with most of the utility work within this first block by end of next week.

Also starting next week will be the installation of the vibration monitoring equipment and pre-construction building condition surveys within the following project area. All vibration monitoring work is being conducted by Terracon Consultants Inc. out of Minneapolis, MN. See project Newsletter No. 2 on the project website for more information.

100 & 200 Block Meridian St N
100 Block Meridian St S (to project limit)
100 Block Main St W
100 Block Main St E
100 Block Church St E

All businesses within the roadway closure will remain open and accessible by foot traffic during construction.

Please make sure to reach out to Cory Bienfang (Bolton & Menk) at 507-995-2936 or email bpdowntown2023@bolton-menk.com if you are interested in making any sewer or water service improvements.

April 21, 2023

Construction is set to begin on Monday, April 24^th. The first operation on Monday morning will be the installation of the roadway closed barricades on N Meridian St between State St and Main St and Church St between Willow St and Chestnut St. Immediately following the closure, the contractor plans to reclaim the existing bituminous pavement within the closure area. Reclamation is the process where the existing pavement and aggregate base materials are pulverized and mixed to create a blended material suitable for reuse or for supporting vehicle traffic. The contractor plans to remove the reclaim material only within the 200 Block of N Meridian St to begin with. The reclaim material within the 100 Block of N Meridian St and two blocks of Church St will be compacted and left in place for local business access.

Following the removal of the reclaim material the Contractor plans to begin the installation of the new sanitary sewer mainline starting at State St and working south towards Main St. The existing water main will be protected and with no planned interruption during the sanitary sewer installation.

All businesses within the roadway closure will remain open and accessible by foot traffic during construction.

Please make sure to reach out to Cory Bienfang (Bolton & Menk) at 507-995-2936 or email bpdowntown2023@bolton-menk.com if you are interested in making any sewer or water service improvements.

April 14, 2023

Construction is anticipated to begin on Monday, April 24^th. The Contractor has confirmed that initial operations will include the roadway closure of N Meridian St between State St and Main St and Church St between Willow St and Chestnut St. All intersections will remain open except for intersection of Meridian and Church St which will be closed to vehicle traffic. There will be no work within the alleys at this time.

All businesses within the roadway closure will remain open and accessible by foot traffic during construction.

Weekly construction meetings will be held in person every Wednesday at 8:00 am in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 218 Meridian St N. The first part of each meeting is open to the public for discussion on schedule and construction concerns. The first weekly meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 26^th.

Please make sure to reach out to Cory Bienfang (Bolton & Menk) at 507-995-2936 or email bpdowntown2023@bolton-menk.com if you are interested in making any sewer or water service improvements.

April 7, 2023

Upcoming Work

A specific construction start date has not been confirmed yet. The contractor is closely monitoring the forecasted weather and the current predicted start date is Monday, May 1st. Going forward, we are planning to distribute a weekly update each Friday to provide information on the construction schedule. Thank you for your patience, the contractor is eager to start work once the weather allows.

Contact

Please make sure to reach out to Cory Bienfang (Bolton & Menk) at 507-995-2936 or email bpdowntown2023@bolton-menk.com if you are interested in making any sewer or water service improvements.

FAQ

We have received the following list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) and wanted to share our answers.

Q: When is the contractor coming back to clean up the remaining tree clearing debris?

A: An exact date has not been communicated yet, but the contractor will be coming back. It may not be until the roadway work officially begins.

Q: Will my existing concrete outwalk within the boulevard from the sidewalk to the back of curb be replaced with the project?

A: Yes, the project will allow for the replacement of all existing outwalks within the boulevard from the new sidewalk to the new curb and gutter. The maximum width of an outwalk is 5-feet.

Q: Where do I find updates regarding the project construction?

A: Anyone looking for more information about the project are encouraged to visit bpdowntown2023.com for construction updates and to sign up for email updates and email questions directly to the project team.

March 17, 2023

All tree removals were successfully completed this week. It may be noticed that not all of the stumps have been removed and contractor is planning to come back in the spring to grub all remaining stumps. Additional updates will be provided regarding construction start up once the date is confirmed.

March 8, 2023

Construction Project Open House for Downtown Property & Business Owners

Open houses kicking off the 2023 Downtown Improvement Project construction are fast approaching. Property owners, business owners, and residents in the following areas are encouraged to attend one of the two sessions:

100 & 200 block Meridian St N,
100 block Meridian St S,
100 block Church St E,
100 block Church St W,
100 block Main St W,
100, 200, & 300 block Main St E
Alleys in Blocks 91, 92 & 103

Those in the project area may choose to attend an open house at 2 p.m. on Monday, March 13^th or 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 14^th. The open houses are being held in the Council Chambers, 218 Meridian St N.

Engineers from Bolton & Menk will be available to discuss construction-related items and logistics including municipal utility service line connections, business delivery logistics, and property access plans. Property owners thinking about changing their utility service line locations should share that information with engineers at the open house. The project will be sequenced by street. When construction on a particular section of street is occurring, street access will be closed. Therefore, property and business owners are encouraged to discuss delivery and property access, parking, and project timing with Bolton & Menk representatives.

Property owners, business owners, and residents in the project area that are unable to attend an open house are encouraged to visit www.bpdowntown2023.com you can sign up for email updates and email questions directly to the project team at Bolton & Menk.

City representatives will also be available at the open house to discuss financial assistance for potential changes impacting long-term use of buildings. There are definitive cost-savings to installing fire suppression connections, relocating restrooms, improving building electrical services, increasing potential building occupancy load, and installing building/access code improvements during street and utility reconstruction.

Construction start, weather-permitting, is scheduled for April. Trees will be removed in March.

February 13, 2023

Project Tree Removal as a function of the Northern Long-eared Bat

On Nov 29, 2022 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that the Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis) as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Section 9 of the Federal ESA prohibits any person from “taking” an endangered species of fish or wildlife. The Section 9 take prohibition applies to federal and non-federal activities, including activities on private property. To take a species is to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect. Harm includes activities that destroy or significantly modify habitat to an extent that it actually kills or injuries the endangered species. Harassment includes intentional or negligent act or omission, which creates the likelihood of injury by annoying it in a way that disrupts normal behavioral patterns.

As a result, tree removal as part of the 2023 Downtown Project will occur prior to March 31st. Bats are underground hibernating in caves and mines during this time and will not be susceptible to injury or death because of tree clearing.

January 31, 2023

The City has executed a contract for the construction of the 2023 Downtown Improvement Project with Ryan Construction Co from Elko-New Market. Contract signing means construction is moving forward in 2023. Ryan and the City are working on a schedule and corresponding communications plan to ensure the project is completed safely and with appropriate sensitivity toward the impact on property owners, businesses, residents, and special events in Downtown.

Construction will begin this Spring with Main Street and Meridian Street substantially completed by year-end. Construction will progress on a sequential basis, starting with underground utilities, progressing to pavement and walkways, and ending with landscaping and amenities. Work is also expected to progress from area to area.

The contract states business access be maintained during the project. Sidewalk removal and reconstruction shall be staged such that a concrete surface continuously serves each business. Temporary fencing will be used to guide pedestrians and deliveries throughout the duration of the project. Street improvement work is not permitted to occur in the street and in the alley adjacent to any business at the same time.

Property and business owners will be receiving a mailing requesting them to participate in area-specific discussions. Topics will include a specific review of intended timelines, project staging, access, deliveries, concerns, and other similarly related issues.

Project communication will be multi-faceted and led by the city engineer’s office. In addition to this website featuring weekly updates and other important project information, community members may opt-in to weekly email updates to stay informed of construction happenings. A dynamic project area access route map will be available online, changing as construction progresses. The map will be provided to emergency services and is made available for business/property owner planning.

At this time, property owners and business operators are encouraged to think strategically about long-term property use. There are definitive cost-savings to installing fire suppression connections, relocating restrooms, improving building electrical services, increasing potential building occupancy load, and installing building/access code improvements during street and utility reconstruction. Thinking ahead by adding potential capacities and options can increase investment property sales value and remove potential hurdles for redevelopment or resale.

Property owners thinking about taking advantage of the potential reconstruction are urged to discuss plans with the City sooner rather than later. Oftentimes, collaboration promotes optimal outcomes and maximizes future options. Financial support through City/EDA low interest and/or forgivable loans is also a possibility.

CONSTRUCTION TIMEFRAME

Spring 2023 – Fall 2023

Have a question?

Send us an email at
bpdowntown2023@bolton-menk.com

Sign up for updates

Scott County will be reconstructing County Road 83 in Shakopee from Highway 169 to Valley Industrial Boulevard from April 2022 through the spring of 2023.

The purpose of the project is to address existing safety issues for people driving, walking, and biking by converting the 4-lane undivided highway to a 4-lane divided highway with added pedestrian facilities. This road is one of few roads providing north/south access through Shakopee into Prior Lake and provides critical access to major industrial areas and high-volume entertainment venues. This route is also an important connection for reginal traffic, connecting Highway 169 to Highway 101, County Road 16, County Road 42, and County Road 82.

Sign up for construction updates

Have a question?

Send us an email at 83construction@bolton-menk.com