MARSHALL — Contractors working on Minnesota Highway 19 in Marshall are still making progress on the west end of the construction area. At Thursday’s weekly construction update meeting, representatives of R and G Construction answered questions from local businesspeople and talked about ongoing street and utility work.

In spite of rain over the past couple of weeks, construction was still on schedule, said Scott Mathiowetz, of R and G Construction.

Mathiowetz said crews were working on finishing the grading on the west end of the project area. The first stage of construction focuses on Highway 19 in the area between Marlene Street and Legion Field Park. Mathiowetz said if there was no more rain, that section of the road could have a gravel surface by Friday. Tentatively, a concrete subcontractor could come in the next week or two, and get the roadway ready for paving, he said.

“And then we’re going to move down to the Saratoga area,” he said. The next stage of construction would focus on the part of Highway 19 between Saratoga Street up to near the Atlantic Place restaurant. Marvin Schwan Memorial Drive would remain open as a cross street, he said.

The next stage of construction could possibly take a little longer than the first stage, Mathiowetz said.