Road, utility projects push ahead despite delays

A stormy summer put several major road and utility projects behind schedule, but progress continues in both Colman and Flandreau, with timelines only slightly delayed, project managers said this week.
In Colman, Highway 34 road and infrastructure improvements were originally scheduled to wrap up in October. Senior Civil Engineer Shane Waterman with IMEG said the project is still on track to reopen to normal traffic before winter.
Paving on the south portion of the highway has been completed, with only driveway and street connections left before the detour route through town can be switched over. Pavement removals have begun on the north portion of the pavement at the west end of the project. The contractor has already completed two of the sanitary sewer crossings and have begun working on completing the storm sewer crossings, Waterman said.
Flandreaus utilities upgrade has also seen delays, due in part to weather and difficulties isolating the water system in the project area. We chose to implement some special valve installations to assist in being able to isolate the water system and allow the contractor to complete the connections at the project limits, Waterman said.
Because of the setbacks, work on Broad Avenue and Prairie Street will be pushed into next years schedule. Street restoration, however, has started on East Park Avenue, East Elm Avenue, South Wind Street and South Center Street, where curbs, gutters and asphalt are expected to be replaced yet this fall.
Bi-weekly progress meetings continue to be recorded and broadcast on the citys website. Waterman encouraged residents to attend. Communication is always a key element in a big infrastructure project like the current one in Flandreau, he said.