Bruce St. reopening gets closer
Weather permitting, intersection could re-open next week
Photo by Deb Gau Construction work at the intersection of East College Drive and Highway 19 is getting closer to completion. On Thursday, crews were working on the traffic light systems at the intersection, as well as preparations for paving work west of Bruce Street.
Photo by Deb Gau Work also continues on Marshall city projects like the reconstruction of part of South Fifth Street. On Thursday, landscaping and resurfacing work was being done.
Photo by Deb Gau Construction work at the intersection of East College Drive and Highway 19 is getting closer to completion. On Thursday, crews were working on the traffic light systems at the intersection, as well as preparations for paving work west of Bruce Street.
Photo by Deb Gau Work also continues on Marshall city projects like the reconstruction of part of South Fifth Street. On Thursday, landscaping and resurfacing work was being done.
Trending
MARSHALL -- A busy Marshall intersection is getting closer to opening back up after construction, representatives of R and G Construction said.
The intersection of Bruce Street and East College Drive could reopen at the end of next week.
However, with rain in the forecast today and early next week, there's not a certain date yet for the reopening.
"It's all weather-dependent," said Erika Coudron of R and G Construction.
For example, electrical work for the stop lights at the intersection can't be done during stormy conditions, Coudron said.
According to the National Weather Service office in Sioux Falls, rain showers and possible thunderstorms are expected in the Marshall area today, with another chance for rain Monday night into Tuesday.
On Thursday, crews near the Bruce Street intersection were working to try and prepare for the rain.
"Everything has kind of been on the defensive," Coudron said.
In addition to working on the traffic light system, crews were also preparing Thursday to install electrical systems for traffic sensors under the surface of the road, Coudron said. If the weather allows, crews hope to begin paving between Bruce Street and High Street next week, she said.
Other work at the Bruce Street/College Drive intersection, including street paving and landscaping work, has been completed, Coudron said in a weekly construction update.
Further down East College Drive, pavement has been removed from the roadway between the Liberty Park bridge and High Street. Crews have started installing new sanitary sewer lines under that portion of College Drive, Coudron's update said. Weather permitting, contractors hope to start installing storm sewers in the area, and to do grading work.
While paving work has mainly been completed on East College Drive in Marshall's downtown area, Coudron said the road will remain closed to through traffic between Main Street and the Liberty Park bridge. It will stay closed for the rest of the College Drive reconstruction project, Coudron said.
"The big thing is safety," she said. Coudron said there were concerns that opening the downtown part of East College Drive would lead to truck traffic attempting to go down the street.
Currently, the intersections of College Drive and West Lyon Street, and College Drive and West Redwood Street, are open for local traffic to cross. Alleyways in the downtown area are also open.
Further down East College Drive, the High Street intersection is open to cross College Drive.
Street projects have also been ongoing for the city of Marshall this week. Replacement of utility lines and street reconstruction on part of North Fifth Street has been going on this summer. On Thursday, asphalt surfacing and landscaping took place on part of Fifth Street between Saratoga Street and Main Street. However, the road was still closed to through traffic.
The city is also planning a resurfacing project at a three-way intersection along U.S. Highway 59. The intersection is one of the main ways to access businesses like Walmart, Marshalls, Harbor Freight and Runnings.
The city announced Thursday that the intersection will be closed today from 6 a.m. to noon for a mill and overlay. Vehicles accessing local businesses will need to find alternate routes while the intersection is being resurfaced. Through traffic on Highway 59 will not be affected by the road work.