Updated road closures noted for lakes area construction

Road closures will create detours for construction projects in Brainerd and Baxter.

Cypress Drive

Landwehr Construction Inc. advised the week of Monday, July 23, the company plans to continue clearing and grubbing of trees and grading work, and start work under Highway 210 and under the railroad tracks.

Underground pipe construction work is anticipated to begin in the next one to two weeks. They further advised there will be night work again out on Highway 210 for turn lane construction at the Cypress Drive intersection starting July 30 for up to three weeks.

The start of the planned six-week closure of the Excelsior Road/Cypress Drive intersection is still dependent on when Landwehr receives delivery of the storm-sewer pipe and structures but it is anticipated to start within the next two weeks. Notice of the closure will be sent out when the start date is determined, reported Scott Hedlund, senior project manager with Short Elliott Hendrickson.

Ongoing construction staking is expected by SEH and Landwehr Construction during the 2018 and 2019 construction seasons. People are asked to not disturb the wood stakes as they are necessary for construction of the road project and are expensive to replace. Intermittent private utility relocation work will be on-going over the next few months on the project corridor.

Excelsior Road/Edgewood Drive

CenterPoint Energy began replacing its gas line on Excelsior Road from Highway 371 to west of Edgewood Drive. They completed most of their work but will be finishing early this week.

Next week, Chuck Rickart, project manager with WSB, reported the final grading and remainder of the curb and gutter will be completed on Excelsior Road from Highway 371 to Forest Drive. In addition removals and grading will begin on the existing Edgewood Drive from Excelsior Road to the Holiday gas station access.

Excelsior Road, including the Edgewood Drive intersection, will remain closed through early the week of July 30 after paving operations are completed on Excelsior Road, Rickart reported. The primary access to the area will be through the Highway 371 and Design Drive intersection. Traffic destined to or from Excelsior Road to the west will need to use the detour route on Highway 210 to Inglewood Drive. Traffic exiting the area to the north will need to use Edgewood Drive to Woida Road.

A signed detour route for through traffic will be provided using Highway 371, Design Drive, Edgewood Drive, Woida Road, Highway 210 and Inglewood Drive.

The project is in the fourth phase with Excelsior Road closed from Highway 371 to the Brenny Funeral Chapel driveway until Aug. 3. With CenterPoint utility work, Excelsior Road from Highway 371 through Edgewood Drive is closed through July 25. Plan are to open Excelsior Road from Highway 371 to Forest Drive on or before Aug. 3

Phase 5a work involves: Site improvements-Boomer Pizza's new parking lot (Edgewood Drive closed/Excelsior Road open to traffic)-July 25-Aug. 31.

Phase 5b: Site improvements-New Edgewood Drive/Cub Foods site (Edgewood Drive closed/Excelsior Road open to traffic) - Sept. 4-28.

Phase 5b: Site improvements-Boomer Pizza's existing parking lot (Edgewood Drive closed/Excelsior Road open to traffic)-Oct. 1-12.

Substantial completion: All roads and parking open to traffic-On or before Oct. 12.

Final completion: Nov. 16.

South Sixth Street

Crews are expected to begin work on the north end of the South Sixth Street reconstruction project beginning Wednesday, July 25.

Here's what to expect:

• Crews will begin working on the north end of the project. That means Business Highway 371/S Sixth Street will close all the way to Highway 210/Washington Street (from Willow Street to Highway 210/Washington Street). The detour uses Industrial Park Road, County Road 45/13th Street Southeast, Oak Street and South Eighth Street.

• Cross street traffic will be maintained downtown between Oak Street and Highway 210. Only one of three cross streets will be closed at a time: Oak Street, Maple Street or Laurel Street.

• Commercial trucks should use Industrial Park Road/County Road 117, Highway 25 and Highway 210. Truck drivers are advised to use the truck route whenever possible as turning radiuses are narrow on the local detour.

• Locals and visitors will encounter work areas and periodic lane/shoulder or sidewalk closures along the entire corridor through October.

• Access to businesses and residences will be maintained and open, but expect changes, including gravel surfaces, and watch for signs.

• In conjunction with this project, the BNSF Railway is tentatively scheduled to replace the railroad crossing between Highway 210/Washington Street and Front Street in early August.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation advises travelers stay out of closed areas, watch for changes and use the signed detours.

Those with questions may contact Joe Cameron, MnDOT project manager, at 218-828-5740. Or, the contractor's 24/7 phone line for access or utility issues, at 218-330-3493.

For more information about this project, including detour maps, visit mndot.gov/d3/brd.