Contending with shifts back and forth between stifling, humid conditions and bouts of heavy rainfall, construction crews doggedly press on with projects as the calendar continues to mark the summer road construction season.
As for the South Sixth reconstruction project in downtown Brainerd, City Engineer Paul Sandy said the project is making good progress-now in the second phase of the project, between Quince and Vine Street.
The project entails a systematic reconstruction of both the surface infrastructure-which includes the street pavement and sidewalks as well as road signs and LED signal lights-and the underground sewer and water systems.
Sewer is completed up to Quince Street, with water lines not far behind, Sandy said during a phone interview Thursday, July 5. Crews, he noted, are replacing the water main between Vine and Quince streets and should be close to done by the end of next week.
While construction crews continue to make good progress on the project-excavating and laying down infrastructure, despite heavy rainfall and storms in recent weeks-issues associated with diverted highway traffic bleeding into residential areas is also vanishing as a problem.
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Sandy credited the Brainerd Police Department and strategic streets left open as crucial factors in this development.
"I haven't gotten any other phone calls about it," said Sandy, who noted the construction hasn't posed an issue recently, even in light of July Fourth congestion. "So I'm thinking it kind of worked itself out after some law enforcement down there, barricading and all that."
Sandy advised residents along the South Sixth Street construction to contact Tyler Collette, the Tom's Backhoe project superintendent, on the 24-hour helpline at 218-330-3493 if they have any issues or utility problems.
