Weekly Updates

June 1, 2026

Sanitary service work has been completed on State Street (County Road 2) from Wigern Drive to 7th Street. The contractor has now begun working on sanitary services on State Street from 7th Street to 6th Street.  With this work moving farther East, State Street from the East side of 7th Street to the West side of 6th Street  is now closed to all traffic. State Street from the 7^th Street intersection going West out of town is now open to traffic. Please be cautious driving through this area, as it is still considered a construction zone.

For residents on 7th and 8th Street that would like to go East through town, you can turn North at the intersection of 7th and North Street and drive into the contractors “staging area.” From here, travel East down the gravel path until you get to 5th Street. Once you get to 5th Street, you can turn South and drive to Roberts Street. After arriving at Roberts Street, turn East and make your way to Main Street, where you will be out of the construction zone.

May 27, 2026

The contractor will be shutting down the water supply for the entire city on Tuesday, June 2 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

This shutdown will allow the contractor time to safely make a connection from the old watermain to the new watermain on Main Street. Although measures will be taken to bleed most of the air out of the lines, it is possible to have air coming through the lines in your home when the water is turned back on. Do not be alarmed if this happens — partially open your sinks or outside spigots until the air is expelled and you have a steady trickle of water.

Please plan accordingly for this four-hour shutdown.

We appreciate your patience during this process.

May 22, 2026

Beginning Tuesday, May 26, State Street (County Road 2) will be closed from the West side of 7th Street to the East side of Wigern Drive.  This road closure is to address failing sanitary sewer service lines encountered in this area during construction.  The intersection of 7th Street and State Street will remain open during this road closure.  Detour signs have already been placed on the roads outside of Kiester to give advanced warning to traffic.

After the services on this block are replaced and the road restored to drivable conditions, the road closure will then shift farther East on State Street from 7th Street to 6th Street to address the same issues on that block. Another update will be sent out before that closure is scheduled.

We appreciate your patience during this process.

April 27, 2026

Construction resumed in Kiester on April 6.

Underground crews started utility installation on 6th Street, Ringer Street, East Street, and North Street.

Most of the underground work on East Street has been completed, and Ulland is planning to begin sub-cutting (excavating soil underneath the future road surface) in preparation for gravel installation the week of April 27.

Ulland and their sub-contractors will continue to install underground utilities on 6^th Street, Ringer Street, and North Street next month.

When utilities are complete on these roads, the grading crew will sub-cut these in preparation for gravel installation.

The intersection of State Street & 6^th Street is planned to be re-opened April 30, depending on weather conditions.

Trenchless watermain installation has been completed on Kapplinger Street, East Street, Center Street, and along TH 22 from North Street to Ringer Street.

Next, the boring crew will continue installing the watermain on TH 22 South of the railroad tracks, and on State Street from Wigern Drive to mid-block between 6^th Street and 5^th Street.

The contractor also plans to install the sanitary sewer main crossing TH 22 on the East end of Front Street.

Once the watermain and sanitary sewer main is installed, the boring crew can begin installing and connecting water services to homes.

Ulland’s grading crew recently began work in town, prepping the boulevards with topsoil for permanent seeding. The contractor plans to have all disturbed areas from 2024 and 2025 permanently seeded before May 15.

Please continue to use caution in and near the construction zones.

June 13, 2025

The contractor plans to continue work on 2nd Street next week and, weather permitting, will begin placing gravel. Crews will also be working on storm sewer installation along 5th Street.

June 5, 2025

Even with the recent rain, the contractor continues to make steady progress on the project. Looking ahead to next week, crews plan to work on sanitary and water service installations along 5th Street, perform spot repairs on sanitary sewer lines at various locations around town, and begin street excavation on 2nd Street.

To learn more about what to expect during construction and what is under your street, visit the ‘Helpful Links’ tab on our website.

May 30, 2025

We hope everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend! This week, the contractor has been making great progress in several areas around town. Looking ahead to next week, crews plan to continue grading work near 7th Street and 8th Street. Over on 5th Street, they’ll be working on storm sewer and water/sanitary sewer service installations. Meanwhile, utility work on 2nd Street is nearly complete, and street grading will be getting underway. Thanks for your continued patience and support as these improvements take shape!

To learn more about what to expect during construction and what is under your street, visit the ‘Helpful Links’ tab on our website.

May 22, 2025

Despite a few rain delays, the contractor continues to make steady progress. Following the Memorial Day holiday, crews will continue work on water service installations along Second Street and will proceed with watermain installation in the Robertson – Fifth Street project area. Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend.

To learn more about what to expect during construction and what is under your street, visit the ‘Helpful Links’ tab on our website.

May 8, 2025

The contractor is planning to start yard grading and restoration on the areas they worked on last year, and they could begin as early as next week. They’ll be grading the yards, cleaning up any leftover construction debris, trimming down the sanitary cleanouts, setting the final heights on curb stops, and seeding.

Last fall, they only managed to do temporary stabilization because the work wrapped up late in the season.

The crew working around Robertson & 5th will continue their work in that area and gradually move north along 5th as they finish each section. You might have noticed another crew starting to set up temporary water on 2nd Street. They’re gearing up to begin street removals and watermain construction next week.

To learn more about what to expect during construction and what is under your street, visit the ‘Helpful Links’ tab on our website.

April 9, 2025

You might have noticed that the tree removal crew has started clearing the remaining trees for this construction project. Next week, Ulland Brothers, the main contractor, will begin underground construction on the south side of the elevator. After that, they’ll move on to work on Front Street.

Additionally, a second crew will start underground construction on the north side of town, likely near the intersection of North Street and Fifth Street. They plan to begin on Fifth Street and continue their work on to Ringer Street and Kapplinger Street in the upcoming weeks.

To learn more about what to expect during construction and what is under your street, visit the ‘Helpful Links’ tab on our website.

Newsletters

• March 2026 Construction Newsletter