Project Updates

• Project Update 6-2-2022
• Project Update 5-26-2022
• Project Update 5-20-2022
• Project Update 5-6-2022
• Project Update 10-28-2021
• Project Update 10-14-2021
• Project Update 10-8-2021 - Pavement Schedule Update
• Project Update10-7-2021
• Project Update 9-27-2021
• Project Update 9-9-2021
• Project Update 8-26-2021
• Project Update 8-19-2021
• Project Update 8-12-2021
• Project Update 8-5-2021
• Project Update 7-22-2021
• Project Update 7-16-2021
• Project Update 7-8-2021
• Project Update 7-1-2021
• Project Update 6-24-2021
• Project Update 6-17-2021
• Project Update 6-10-2021
• Project Update 6-3-2021
• Project Update 5-27-2021
• Project Update 5-20-2021
• Project Update 5-13-2021

The project includes nine blocks. Four of the blocks are under the jurisdiction of Lake County and five are under jurisdiction of the City of Two Harbors. The blocks in the project are:

• 8th Street from 4th Avenue to 7th Avenue. (Lake County).
• 4th Avenue from 7th Street to 8th Street. (Lake County).
• 4th Avenue from 8th Street to its west end. (City).
• 5th Avenue from 7th Street to its west end. (City).
• 6th Avenue from 7th Street to its west end. (City).

PAVEMENT: All blocks are receiving new blacktop pavement, supported by new layers of gravel and sand.

CONCRETE CURB: New concrete curb is being installed on all blocks.

SIDEWALK:

• 4th Avenue: The existing sidewalk on both sides are being replaced with new concrete sidewalk.
• 5th Avenue: The existing sidewalk on both sides are being replaced with new concrete sidewalk.
• 6th Avenue:
  • 7th St to 8th St: Existing sidewalk on both sides are being replaced with new concrete sidewalk.
  • West of 8th St: Existing sidewalk on north side is being replaced with new concrete sidewalk. No sidewalk is being constructed on the south side.
• 8th Street:
  • The existing sidewalk on both sides are being removed from 4th Avenue to 7th Avenue.
  • 4th Ave to 5th Ave: New sidewalk is being constructed on both sides.
  • 5th Ave to 7th Ave: New sidewalk is being constructed on the west side only.

SANITARY SEWER: Existing sewer mains will be replaced on all blocks of 4th Avenue, 5th Avenue, and 6th Avenue. The sewer mains are generally located in the center of the avenue. Sewer does not exist along 8th Street. Individual house service pipes will be replaced from the sewer main to the property line.

WATER MAIN: Existing water main is being replaced on all blocks of 4th Avenue, 5th Avenue, and 6th Avenue. Water main does not exist along 8th Street. Individual house service pipes will be replaced from the water main up to and including the service shut off (curb box), which is usually located at or near the property line.

STORM SEWER: The existing storm sewer on 8th Street from the Skunk Creek tunnel to 7th Avenue is being replaced with new storm sewer, including additional catch basins at the intersection of 6th Avenue. New storm sewer will be installed on 8th Street from the Skunk Creek tunnel to 5th Avenue, including catch basins at the intersection. Drain tile is also being installed on 8th Street, as well as the block of 5th Avenue west of 8th Street, and on both blocks of 6th Avenue.

Construction is expected to begin in mid to late May. Work will not start in all areas at the same time. 

In general, work on a block will take about 4 weeks from removal of pavement until new gravel is in place. 

Once a block has the new gravel, it should be paved within about another 4 weeks. 

For the blocks adjacent to Minnehaha School, the pavement and sidewalks won’t be removed until after summer recess begins (approximately June 11th). 

The blocks adjacent to Minnehaha School are required to have pavement and concrete work done by August 20th. 

8th Street is required to be done by October 15th. 

The remaining City Avenues could be done in 2021 if conditions allow, or they could be carried over into 2022. If the Contractor starts work (removes pavement) on a block in 2021, it must be completed with pavement and concrete in 2021. No gravel streets will be allowed over the winter (unless it was gravel prior to the project). 

Several factors can influence construction duration - but the single most important factor is weather. A rainy, wet season will make construction more difficult to perform, leading to non-working days and increasing the time needed to complete the project. 

The contract specifies all work on the project to be complete by August 1, 2022. 

A more detailed schedule should be provided by the Contractor prior to the start of work. 

The approved working hours are 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

The Contractor may work Saturdays, if they request permission from the city or county. Working on Saturday is usually done only if they are making up for rain days during the week or trying to meet a deadline. 

Work on Sundays or holidays would only happen under extreme or emergency conditions. 

During sewer and water utility work on the avenues, the road is expected to be closed to traffic for about a month. If there are driveways that only have access to an avenue under construction, coordination will be made with that property for access. 

Other than during the utility work, in general you should be able to drive on the roads during the project. However, there will be times when you will be discouraged or restricted from doing so. These restrictions are not often and typically occur during the day when construction crews are performing specific work that prevent safe passage, such as concrete work, paving operations, or when vehicle traffic could damage the work. 

All driveways should be accessible and usable at the end of each day. The only exception may be for a few days after concrete is poured, to let the concrete cure and harden. Written notice would be provided for those situations. 

It will be necessary to interrupt the water and sewer service for isolated periods during the construction of the new utilities. To allow installation of the new water main, temporary water mains will be used. Properties will be switched over from the old water main to the temporary water main, then from the temporary water main to the new water main when it is ready. Page 3 of 4 

Properties affected by water or sewer service interruptions will be notified in writing at least 48-hours in advance. 

Service interruptions will generally be limited to 4 hours or less. Service will not be interrupted before 9:00 a.m. 

The Contractor will work with the U.S. Postal Service for coordination of mail delivery. 

In general, mail service should not be affected by the work. 

However, if it becomes unsafe for the mail carrier to deliver the mail, it may become necessary to set up temporary mailboxes for a period of time. The temporary mail boxes are usually placed on the next block over from where construction is occurring. 

If temporary mailboxes are needed, a written notice will be delivered to affected properties before the mail delivery locations change. 

Residents should put their garbage out as usual during construction. 

The Contractor will coordinate with the garbage haulers. Efforts will be made to allow the haulers to collect as usual. However, if there is a day when the route is not accessible, the Contractor would move the containers to a location where they can be collected, then the Contractor would return the containers to each property. 

If you have any personal property, such as landscaping, plants, rocks, timbers, etc., within a few feet of the existing pavement or sidewalk, and you would like to save that property, you should remove it prior to the start of construction. 

Anything still in place when the work occurs will be removed by the Contractor and will be disposed. If you have questions about a specific item or property, please contact one of the individuals listed in Q11 below. 

Most trees along the boulevard will need to be removed to allow the construction. Factors such as long-term health of the trees, public safety, utility locations, and impacts of the trees on the newly constructed utilities, sidewalks and streets are considered when deciding whether a tree needs to be removed. Those trees that can be preserved during construction will be where it is practical. 

The city and county will have project representatives on-site daily during construction. Their contact information is listed below. These individuals should be the first call for questions. 

City of Two Harbors Lake County 

Adam Nix John Schlangen 

Cell phone: 218-830-0512 Cell phone 218-343-3875 

Email: adam.nix@bolton-menk.com

Email: john.schlangen@co.lake.mn.us 

 

You can also call City Hall at 218-834-5631 or the Lake County Highway Department at 218-834-8380 during regular business hours.