Project Updates

Project updates

Construction update – 6/17/25

Crews install storm sewer catch basin and manhole on 4th Street

With more rain forecasted this week, please avoid driving in construction areas when the road is wet and muddy. Driveway access will be limited during working hours but will be available at the end of the workday.

Phase 1A: This week, crews are wrapping up water services and completing storm sewer installation on 4th Street and 11th Avenue. Weather permitting, crews will begin laying the road base on 4th Street followed by 11th Avenue early next week.

Phase 1B: Sanitary sewer main installation was completed last week on 8th Avenue between 7th and 9th Street. Crews will finish sanitary sewer this week on 8th Street and 9th Street. Water main installation on 8th Avenue may begin this week, weather permitting.

Phase 2A: On Monday, June 23, water will be shut off in Phase 2A for a few hours. Homes will be connected to temporary water to allow crews to begin water service work. Sanitary sewer main installation will begin early next week on 5th Street from 11th to 13th Avenue, weather permitting.

Residents and businesses are welcome to attend weekly construction meetings to share questions or concerns about the project. These are held on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. at the intersection of 11th Avenue and 4th Street.

Phasing areas:

Construction phasing map

Phase 1A: 4th Street from 10th to 13th Avenue, 11th Avenue from 4th to 5th Street

Phase 1B: 8th Avenue from 7th Street to 9th Street, 8th Street from 8th Avenue to 7th Avenue, 9th Street from 8th Avenue to 7th Avenue

Phase 2A: 5th Street from 13th Avenue to 11th Avenue, 12th Avenue from 4th Street to 7th Street, 11th Avenue from 5th Street to 6th Street

Phase 2B: 8th Avenue from 9th Street to Haywood Drive, 10th Street from 8th Avenue to alley, 10th Street from St. James Lutheran School to 5th Avenue, 11th Street from 8th Avenue to 7th Avenue, Haywood Drive from 8th Avenue west to curve

Phase 3A: 13th Avenue from 6th Street to 4th Street

Phase 3B: 8th Street from 7th Avenue to 8th Avenue, 9th Street from 7th Avenue to 8th Avenue, 10th Street from 7th Avenue to 8th Avenue, 11th Street from 7th Avenue to 5th Avenue

Phase 4B: 5th Avenue from 9th Street to dead end

Construction update – 6/11/25

Crews install a hydrant on 4th Street.

Phase 1A: Water main work was completed this week for all of Phase 1A. This week, crews will wrap up sewer and water services. Weather permitting, crews will have storm sewer for this area completed by mid to late next week.

Phase 1B: Crews are rerouting water main pipes at the intersection of 8th Avenue and 9th Street to avoid conflicts with sanitary sewer installation. Sanitary sewer work begins this week on 8th Avenue from 7th Street south to 9th Street. 8th Street and 9th Street will follow into next week.

Construction update – 6/4/25

Crews install sanitary sewer on 4th Street

With the rain this week, please avoid driving in construction areas when the road is wet and muddy.

Phase 1A: Sewer main work was completed this week for the entirety of Phase 1A. Sanitary sewer service work will begin this week on the south side of 4th Street and all of 11th Avenue, continuing into next week. Early next week, watermain work will begin on 4th Street from 11th Avenue to 13th Avenue.

Phase 1B: On Monday, June 9, water will be shut off to homes in Phase 1B from 8 a.m. to the early afternoon. Homes will be connected to temporary water to allow them to begin water service work. Sanitary sewer main work will begin later next week on 8th Avenue from 7th Street to 9th Street.

Driveway access will be limited during working hours but will be available at the end of the workday.

Phases 2B, 3B, and 4B: Crews finished placing erosion control measures in these areas at the end of last week.

Construction update – 5/28/25

Crews install a sanitary sewer manhole on 4th Street

Phase 1A: Sanitary sewer work in Phase 1A should be wrapping up by the end of the week. Sewer service work on 4th Street is estimated to start late next week. Driveway access will be limited during working hours but will be available at the end of the workday.

Phase 1B: Pavement removal will begin throughout Phase 1B this week and may continue into next. The street will be closed during the day, so driveway access will be limited during working hours.

Phases 1B, 2B, 3B, and 4B: Crews will be placing erosion control measures in these areas throughout this week and next.

Construction update – 5/22/25

This week, crews began installing sanitary sewer at 4th Street and 10th Avenue, working their way west through Phase 1A. Sanitary sewer work will continue on 4th Street to 13th Avenue into early next week. Crews will then begin sanitary sewer work on 11th Avenue, beginning at 5th Street and working north.

Crews have been delayed due to the rain, so work may not begin in the 8th Avenue/8th Street area (Phase 1B) next week as scheduled. We will provide an update next week.

Construction update – 5/14/25

On Wednesday, crews began connecting properties along 4th Street and 11th Avenue in Phase 1A to temporary water to allow them to begin water service work. Early next week, once all properties are on temporary water and the existing water main is sealed off (or “capped”), crews will begin installing new sanitary sewer in all areas of Phase 1A. New water main installation will follow.

Phase 1A includes 4th Street from 10th to 13th Avenue and 11th Avenue from 4th to 5th Street.

Construction has begun!

Construction began on Monday, May 5 with tree removals throughout the project area and pavement removals along 4th Street (Phase 1A). The construction team set up temporary water and began testing; you will be notified by the contractor when your water will be connected.

Crews remove trees and sidewalks in the project area. Construction crews remove pavement along 4th Street.

Thank you for attending the Howard Lake open house!

Project staff explain construction plans to open house attendees

The project team would like to thank all of those who came out to learn more about the Howard Lake Street and Utility Improvements Project last week. It was a great opportunity for the project team to hear residents’ concerns and for residents to learn more about what to expect before construction begins later this year.

If you have questions or concerns about the project, please contact:

Jeremy Klatt
Foreman, Latour Construction
612-366-9507

Jonas Svavarsson
On-Site Inspector, Bolton & Menk
320-429-0131

Additional project contacts

Tree removals

To prepare for construction, tree removals will begin on Monday, April 28. While we try to avoid removing trees to the extent possible, it is necessary to remove some trees that will be impacted by construction. Trees that will need to be removed will be marked with a pink ribbon.

Contracting

On February 7, 2025, the City received 11 competitive bids (shown below) for the USDA Phase 1 – Infrastructure Improvement Project. Bid amounts ranged from $6,817,938.56 to $8,615,545.20. On March 17, the Council voted to approve and award the construction contract to LaTour Construction, Inc. of Maple Lake, Minnesota.

1.	LaTour Construction, Inc. Maple Lake, MN	$6,817,938.56
2.	S.M. Hentges & Sons, Inc. Jordan, MN	$6,994,898.41
3.	RL Larson Excavating Inc. St. Cloud, MN	$7,096,602.07
4.	C&L Excavating, Inc St. Joseph, MN	$7,241,838.82
5.	Kuechle Underground Inc. Kimball, MN	$7,286,391.79
6.	Northdale Construction Company, Inc. Albertville, MN	$7,303,074.69
7.	R & R Excavating, Inc. Hutchinson, MN	$7,488,832.90
8.	Landwehr Construction, Inc. St. Cloud, MN	$7,667,912.87
9.	Hjerpe Contracting, Inc. Hutchinson, MN	$7,746,677.72
10.	Valley Paving, Inc. Shakopee, MN	$7,826,826.00
11.	Duininck, Inc. Prinsburg, MN	$8,615,545.20