The final phase of the S. 8th Construction project is nearing completion as paving of phase two was completed yesterday. Thermoplastic striping and final signing will take place this week and into early next week. We will follow with the completion of the concrete pedestrian ramps, topsoil/seeding and a perform a general overall cleanup of the project. We anticipate being complete by Monday, October 8th.  

The main portion of curb and gutter throughout phase 2 was completed last week. This week crews are working on topsoiling and placing/finishing road base gravels. Next week the concrete crews will be back to finish up the curb and gutter and begin pouring the remaining approaches and pedstrian ramps throughout phase 2. We currently anticipate paving to begin around September 19th/20th with project completion around the first of October.

Crews have been plugging away on phase two. The new storm drain trunk line from Olive Street to Main Street has been completed as well as the excavation between Olive Street and Main Street on the west half of S. 8th Avenue. Crews have started hauling subbase gravel through this section as well. Excavation on the East half of S. 8th between Olive Street and Main Street should begin toward the end of this week/first of next week. By the end of next week we anticipate having the excavation completed and plan to continue hauling subbase gravel and base gravels with curb and gutter and concrete flatwork to follow.

South 8th Avenue between Harrison Street and Story Street will be re-opened to traffic tomorrow afternoon (7/13).

Paving was completed on Friday, July 6th between Harrison Street and Koch Street. Crews have since finished the colored concrete crosswalks and Thermoplastic pavement markings will begin on Tuesday, July 10th. It appears that phase one of the project will be re-opened to traffic between Harrison Street and Story Street on Monday, July 16th.

While crews have started partial work on phase two of the project we will be closing down S. 8th Avenue betwen Koch Street and West Main Street starting on Monday, July 16th. We anticipate phase two to be complete around the end of September/first of October.

Paving of the first phase of S. 8th is set to begin this morning (7/2). Paving will begin starting at Harrison Street and extend North to Koch Street. Paving is anticipated to be complete on Thursday, July 5th. Final pavement markings will start on Friday, July 6th and should be complete by Friday, July 13th. East/West access along College Street will be closed for the majority of this week and portions of next week.

In addition to paving, Knife River crews will also continue pouring concrete pedestrain ramps throughout phase one as well as install the colored and stamped crosswalks at various intersections throughout. They will also begin roadway excavation on a portion of phase two between Koch and Olive.

Phase one is still anticipated to be open to traffic on Monday, July 16th.

As you have noticed the first phase of the project is starting to come together now with curb and gutter recently being installed along S. 8^th Avenue extending from Harrison Street to Story Street. Over the next week and a half we will be finishing up the curb and gutter, pedestrian ramps, concrete driveway approaches, topsoil and finishing our gravel in anticipation of asphalt placement throughout the entire first phase (Harrison to Koch). Pending weather delays we are currently scheduled to pave S. 8^th Avenue from Harrison Street to Koch Street starting on July 2^nd and finishing up on either July 5^th or 6^th (breaking for the 4^th of July holiday). Following asphalt paving we will utilize the week of July 9^th to start and finish our pavement markings between Harrison Street and Koch Street as well as install colored concrete crosswalks at various intersections throughout. If the weather holds the first phase should be complete and open for use on Monday, July 16^th.

In addition to the above, starting next Wednesday, June 27^th, we will be extending our current work zone (which ends at Koch Street) to just short of Olive Street. With this work zone extension the current detour around the work zone will also be extended from Curtiss Street to Olive Street. This will enable our dirt and gravel crews to continue the reconstruct of S. 8^th and hopefully minimize the overall duration of our impacts. College Street will remain open to through traffic East/West as much as possible until we begin paving at which time it will be closed. We anticipate one more day of closure at the College Street intersection before paving.

We sincerely appreciate your continued patience as the project has no doubt presented some inconveniences but Knife River will continue to make every effort for this project to proceed as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

We also ask that you obey all traffic control devices/signs that are in place throughout the project. They are put up for your safety.

Revised Detour / Road Closure Plan - To Start 6/27/2012

We finally had a full week of good weather and with that we were able to complete a lot of work. Storm drainage installation along S. 8th has been completed at the intersections of College, Alderson, Dickerson and is almost complete at Story. Street Excavation has been completed from Harrison to Story. Gravel work has almost been completed from Harrison to Alderson. Concrete crews have also been busy performing sidewalk spot repairs between Harrison to Koch. Next week the following work activities will take place.

1.) Street excavation will be completed from Story to Koch. This will finish out the street excavation in  
      phase one.
2.) Storm drainage installation will be completed and Story. Storm drainage installation will begin at Koch.
3.) Gravel Haul / Placement will continue from Alderson to Story.
4.) Curb and Gutter installation will be begin on Monday between Harrison and Alderson. Driveway
     Approach tie-ins and pedestrian ramp installation will also begin throughout the curbed areas.

In addition to the above work there will be intermittent closures of the S. 8th and College Street intersections.

We appreciate your continued patience with the construction project and ask that you please be respectful of the closure signs and follow the detours that are in-place.

The weather has cleared for the day and with that we will be closing the intersection of College and S. 8th Avenue. However, it will be open throughout the weekend.

It is still scheduled to be closed again starting Tuesday, May 29th through Friday, June 1st, weather permitting.

With the recent wet weather and the continued weather outlook for the remainder of the week it looks like construction will be slowed significantly as the clay material that exists throughout the project becomes unworkable with moisture. However, you may still see us working out there this week performing spot repairs to the existing storm line that runs north and south through the project as well as beginning the new storm drainage installation just south of the College Street and S. 8^th Avenue Intersection.

As you have probably noticed College Street has been closed intermittently as we have been keeping the East / West access along College Street through the S. 8^th Avenue intersection open as much as possible to minimize inconvenience. It is currently open and will remain open until the weather clears and we can put together a couple of sunny dry days to get it excavated and place gravel. Based on the current weather forecast it appears that we will be closing it back down starting on Tuesday, May 29^th through Friday, June 1^st. These dates are weather dependent and may be revised.

We have also been noticing that some people are not observing the road closures and have been driving to the closure barricades and then turning around on private property or driving up on the boulevards to turn around. We ask that you please be respectful of the road closure signs, follow the detours that are in-place and stay off of the landscaped boulevards.

More updates will follow as the weather clears.

S. 8th Aveneue Road Closure Plans - Phase 1 and 2

South 8^th Avenue – Construction Set to Begin

Weather permitting, Knife River – Belgrade will start the re-construction of S. 8^th Avenue on May 14^th, 2012. The project will extend from Harrison Street to Main Street and will involve a complete re-construction.

Highlights of the project include:

• New roadway gravel sections
• New curb and gutter
• New asphalt surfacing
• Sidewalk repairs
• New Pedestrian Ramps at all intersections
• New Colored Concrete Crosswalks
• Storm Drainage Improvements
• Bicycle lanes

The project will be broken into two phases: Harrison Street to Koch Street and Koch Street to Main Street. The first phase of the project will be between Harrison and Koch and the second phase will be between Koch and Main. We will be starting the first phase on Monday, May 14th, 2012 and anticipate to be completed around the middle of July 2012. The second phase is anticipated to be completed around the middle of October 2012. Working hours on the project will generally be from 7:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday. Weekend work is not currently scheduled but may be required.

Throughout construction road closures and detours will be in place. Road closure plans will be posted to our project website (http://www.s8threconstruct.blogspot.com/) for both phases of the project. Local access will be maintained as much as possible through the closures. However, there will be times where your driveway access is interrupted for continuous periods of time. Local access will be maintained continuously within one block of your residence. When in doubt don’t hesitate to ask one of our employees to speak to the Foreman or Superintendent on-site if you have immediate questions or concerns regarding access during construction. On street parking inside the road closures will not be allowed at any time. 

We ask for your patience as this project will present some inconveniences but Knife River will make every effort to make this project proceed as smoothly and efficiently as possible. We also request that residents be mindful of heavy construction equipment and trucks entering and exiting the project corridor.

Please feel free to call Knife River at 406-388-6832 with any questions or concerns that you may have. We have a website setup for the project that you can visit that will have weekly project updates. http://www.s8threconstruct.blogspot.com/