by Jack McLoone

As of Tuesday, July 28th, the construction team

for the Con_uence Development began performing underground utility work and other surface construction on the block of W. 2nd St. (Dakota County Rd. 42). The road closure is expected to be in place until August 10th as the construction team begins the underground utility work under W. 2nd St. in the area between the west ramp road and through the intersection with Eddy St.

“Unfortunately, due to the presence of hard bedrock below the surface this work will initially be pretty slow while trenches are dug,” Public Works Director Nick Egger

stated in a press release.

“There is also a variety of surface modi_cations that

will be getting done within the right of way during this phase of work. They are anticipating about a two-week timeline from start to _nish.”

Egger detailed the detour that was put in place.

“I’ve worked with the contracting team to develop a traf_c management plan that preserves access to the downtown area and

parking lots and provides way_nding for traf_c destined to head westbound on County Road 42,”

Egger said. “Pine St. and W. 4th St. will serve as the detour route, while way-

_nding will provide direction to motorists wishing to access downtown from

Hwy. 61. I’ve developed

the attached map to illustrate closures as well as access routes for different destinations.”