Local road construction to begin soon

By Brenda Erdahl

Orange cones and construction signs have appeared on Spruce Avenue and surrounding neighborhoods in Maple Lake as work begins on the scheduled mill and overlay project.

According to Public Works Director Al Hudek, crews expect to finish this week with drain tile and sump pump connection work and get started on curb and gutter replacement. The week after Labor Day, crews will start the mill work and if all goes well, paving will begin the week of the 19th with seeding and grading to follow the week of the 25th. The goal is to complete the entire project by the end of September.

The project includes Happy Knolls addition, Paumen first, second and third additions, Spruce Avenue from Highway 55 north to where the pavement ends, 1,000 feet of Congress Street east of Spruce, areas of Congress Street West, Maple Avenue North, Elm Avenue North and First Street East. Those areas have been identified as experiencing unraveling of bituminous, potholes and the loss of bond between oil and aggregate and the top section of existing bituminous.

Throughout construction roads will remain open and residents will have access to their driveways. The only time residents might not be able to access their driveway is when crews are directly in front of it, Hudek said.

The signs are stacking up on Spruce Avenue in Maple Lake as crews prepare to begin a mill and overlay project on the road and surrounding neighborhoods.