In an update to Marshall businesspeople this week, Erika Coudron of R and G Construction said work is now going on to install new sewer lines at the intersection of Bruce Street and East College Drive (Highway 19).

The College Drive/Bruce Street intersection was closed down on Tuesday, as part of highway reconstruction on College Drive in Marshall. In addition to the Bruce Street intersection, the Main Street/College Drive intersection, and a downtown segment of College Drive, are all closed for construction.

Adding to the construction downtown, a portion of South Fifth Street is also closed. Marshall Public Works Director Jason Anderson said contractors have installed new sanitary sewer lines under Fifth Street between Main and Saratoga Streets, and are now working on installing new water lines.

Work on water line installation will continue into next week, Anderson said.

Photo by Deb Gau Excavation equipment showed where contractors from Action Company were doing underground work along part of South Fifth Street. Street and utility updates are underway between Main Street and Saratoga Street.

After the Bruce Street intersection closed Tuesday, construction crews removed the pavement and sidewalks, as well as the stop light at the intersection, Coudron said. Temporary water service was set up for affected properties in the area, and sewer work is now underway.

Coudron said concrete paving has begun on College Drive in the downtown area, between Main Street and the bridge near Liberty Park. In addition to concrete paving on the roadway, new concrete approach panels have been poured for the bridge. In the College Drive/Main Street intersection, work has progressed to the point where the intersection is gravel. Weather permitting, concrete paving will begin in the intersection starting next week.

With both the Main Street and Bruce Street intersections closed, local drivers have had to find alternate routes around the construction zones. Coudron said businesses at the College Drive/Bruce Street intersection are still open, and can be accessed either from the west on North Third Street and College Drive, or from the east on College Drive.

Downtown, local traffic can cross College Drive at West Redwood Street.

Anderson said Marshall city staff have been hearing public concerns, as drivers travel through residential neighborhoods to avoid construction zones.

“There have been quite a few people on various streets around town, letting us know there’s more traffic on their streets,” or voicing concerns about the speed of the traffic, Anderson said.

Anderson said the city has been working with Marshall Police to try and monitor traffic in different parts of the city. However, in the end it comes down to drivers needing to travel carefully when they take alternate routes through Marshall.

“We ask that motorists use caution,” he said.

Anderson said another city project currently going on is pedestrian trail improvements along Southview Drive. At some point this summer, city street work will also start up on a portion of North High Street, he said.