Road Report: Sept. 18, 2023

Construction season is here, and so is our weekly look at what projects are done, where you’ll find traffic impacts and what’s scheduled next.

What’s done

33rd Street/60th Street North: Crews performed a slurry seal on 33rd Street between Grange and Spring avenues and also on 60th Street North between Sycamore Avenue and Veterans Parkway last week.

This preventative maintenance work required only a one-day closure on each street and addressed minor defects while also extending the overall life of these streets.

Final pavement markings will be installed early this week. Here’s a closer look at the process:

W

What’s underway

41st & I-29: The 41st Street and Interstate 29 interchange project had two big changes last week:

• • The northbound on-ramp from 41st Street to I-29 that had been closed for an extended period of time reopened Sept. 14.
  • The northbound off-ramp from I-29 to 41st closed Sept. 15 and will remain closed until early November to allow crews to reconstruct this off-ramp. Northbound I-29 traffic should use the 26th Street interchange and either Marion Road or Louise Avenue to access 41st Street.
  • All work on this project is expected to be complete in the spring of 2024.

Benson & I-229: The Benson Road and Interstate 229 interchange project had two big changes last week:

• Lewis Avenue reopened to traffic north of Benson Road late in the day Sept. 14.

• Potsdam Avenue closed north of Benson Road on Sept. 15 to allow crews to begin concrete paving work.

Potsdam traffic should use Lewis Avenue as an alternate route.

Potsdam is expected to reopen to traffic in early October.

Crews are finishing up the underground utility work along Benson Road for this year and have started concrete paving on Benson west of I-229.

Concrete paving is nearly complete east of I-229, with crews currently working on sidewalks and the center median.

All work on this project is expected to be complete in the spring of 2025.

26th Street: Crews on 26th Street between Cleveland and Alpine avenues are working on adjusting manholes and valve boxes up to the new street surface before traffic is switched onto the new pavement sometime this week.

This project is on track to be complete in mid-November.

85th Street: 85th Street was closed last week between Minnesota and Louise avenues to allow crews to mill, or grind off, the top 2 inches of the street surface to prepare for an asphalt overlay this week. 85th Street reopened for the weekend but will be closed again this week for paving.

41st Street: The outside eastbound lane on 41st Street closed east of Sertoma Avenue on Sept. 15 to allow crews to perform parking lot repairs. Eastbound traffic will be reduced to one lane, but two eastbound lanes will be open during the morning and evening commutes. All work is expected to be complete by Tuesday.

Solberg Avenue: The outside northbound lane of Solberg Avenue closed between Valhalla Boulevard and 49th Street on Sept. 15 to allow crews to perform sidewalk repairs. This work is expected to be complete in about one week.

What’s next

Sixth Street: Beginning today, the intersection of Sixth Street and Weber Avenue will be closed for street and utility construction as part of the Unity Bridge and Sixth Street reconstruction project.

Weber traffic should use Cliff Avenue as an alternate route. This intersection is expected to reopen to traffic by the end of October.

Crews are boring through the rock under the railroad tracks and finalizing the falsework and steel reinforcement for the new bridge deck.

The concrete for the new bridge deck is scheduled to be poured in early October. All work on this project is expected to be complete in 2024.

Also beginning today:

Minnesota Avenue: The outside northbound lane and outside southbound lane of Minnesota Avenue will be closed approximately one-quarter mile south of 85th Street to allow crews to install turn lanes at the new Veterans Parkway intersection. One northbound lane and one southbound lane will be maintained at all times. This work is expected to be complete in three to four weeks.

Minnesota Avenue: The outside southbound lane on Minnesota Avenue will be closed north of 57th Street to allow crews to perform concrete repairs. This work is expected to be complete in about two weeks.

Kiwanis Avenue: The outside southbound lane and the center turn lane on Kiwanis Avenue will be closed south of 12th Street to allow crews to determine utility line locations. One southbound lane of traffic will be maintained, as well as the two lanes of northbound traffic. This work is expected to be complete in one day.