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MARSHALL -- The construction work that updated part of Minnesota Highway 19 in Marshall came with its own challenges for area residents, drivers and Marshall business owners. But although construction meant detouring around parts of College Drive or finding different ways to access local businesses, the finished roadway is looking good, local residents said.
"I think it's a huge improvement," Marshall resident Rod VanderZiel said Friday.
Reconstruction of Highway 19 was done in two phases, with the first phase completed in 2025. That half of the project impacted access to several local businesses along West College Drive. This spring and summer, highway reconstruction continued from Main Street to Bruce Street. The work meant that a couple of busy Marshall intersections, at Main Street and Bruce Street, were temporarily closed. The part of East College Drive that runs through Marshall's downtown area was closed for the whole construction season.
The construction wasn't always convenient for getting to work in Marshall, Mykenna Vollmer said. "It blocked off a lot for me," Vollmer said.
Getting around the city was "definitely going to be easier now," Teresa Larsen said.
"Living in town here, we got used to it," VanderZiel said of the road work. He knew his way around Marshall to avoid the construction zones. But, he said, "It sure is nice having it done."
At the same time, Marshall residents said it was good to see some of the safety improvements the project built.
"I feel like the extra crosswalks are nice," Vollmer said.
The construction did have an impact for businesses on East College Drive this spring and summer.
"In April, it was definitely very slow," said Anytime Fitness manager Keira Hultquist. People had to adjust to using a different entrance to the gym's parking lot, Hultquist said. "Once people found their way in, it picked back up."
Saw Bu, owner of Ella's Market, said customers at the grocery store sometimes had trouble getting there during construction. "It slowed down sales, for sure," he said.
"For three months, people couldn't get into the parking lot. That was tough," said Justin Bott, owner of the Botts Spot sports cards and collectibles store on East College Drive. "Traffic driving by here is huge for me."
Bott said that, although construction was hard for his business, he was staying positive.
"I feel like everything is going to come back to normal in a few months," he said.
Farmers Insurance agent Dylan Bennett said accessing his office at the corner of East College Drive and West Marshall Street was "Kind of tricky for a while," but he was able to find alternative ways to work with customers during construction.
Although construction affected traffic at local businesses, there were positives, businesspeople said. Hultquist said contractors regularly communicated with her, and let her know what the construction work was going to look like. Hultquist and Bennett said it was good to see improvements like new sidewalks and pedestrian crossings along the College Drive corridor.
"They did it to make the road better. That's a good thing," Bu said of the project.