MARSHALL — Work in the first stage of a major reconstruction project on Minnesota Highway 19 in Marshall has progressed toward a bridge near Legion Field Park, and to a stretch of roadway near Saratoga Street.

Representatives from the Minnesota Department of Transportation said Thursday that Highway 19 (College Drive) is closed between Fairgrounds Road and Main Street.

The Legion Field bridge on Highway 19 is also closed, while crews work on its sills and approach panels, MnDOT said.

At the same time that road construction is going on, work is also progressing at the site of the new Marshall Aquatic Center. Larry Filippi, of construction management firm Contegrity, said work on site drainage and excavation for building footings was underway.

Highway 19 updates

In a weekly construction update Thursday, representatives of MnDOT and R and G Construction said utility work has been completed on the first stage of the Highway 19 project. Staking has started for concrete paving and curb and gutter work next week.

Concrete work is planned to take about 3 to 4 weeks, said Erika Coudron of R and G.

Construction crews have also been working on the Highway 19 bridge near Legion Field, Coudron said. Crews have removed the approach panels to the bridge, and new sills for the bridge have been poured. New bridge approach panels are scheduled to be poured next week.

Work on Stage 2 of the Highway 19 construction is also underway, Coudron said. Currently, utility companies are relocating lines at the intersection of Saratoga Street and College Drive. Work has also started to install new water mains under the roadway.

MnDOT said a detour on Highway 19 is still in place, with traffic being directed onto Lyon County Road 7 and Minnesota Highway 23. West College Drive is closed from Fairgrounds Road to Main Street. Residents of Marlene Street, Paul Street and Parkview Drive will have access to those streets from the west on Highway 19, as well as on Legion Field Road.

MnDOT said the West Saratoga Street intersection with College Drive is closed, but the intersections with North Greeley Street and Main Street are open.

Aquatic Center updates

A few different things have been going on at the Aquatic Center site near the corner of Saratoga Street and West College Drive, Filippi said.

“It has started off well,” he said of construction. The project was progressing well with the original construction schedule, in spite of some rainy days, Filippi said.

Construction crews have been working on drainage tile lines, which would help remove excess water from the site. Work is also ongoing for the foundations of the Aquatic Center’s mechanical building, and the sleeves that would allow pipe connections in the building, Filippi said. On Wednesday, excavation began for the foundations of the center’s bathhouse building.