by Dennis Dalman
Ongoing informational updates about Sartell’s and Stearns County’s County Road 1 Improvements Project, now underway, will be emailed to residents who request them.
To receive the updates via email, sign up for them at mblommel@sehinc.com. That is the email address for Melissa Blommel, an employee of Short Elliot Hendrickson, the city’s engineering firm coordinating the project.
Project updates will also be posted periodically on the Sartell city website: sartellmn.com
The County Road 1 project, approved by the city council last year, is one of the most ambitious “make-overs” in the history of Sartell. Various kinds of delays, disruptions and detours will occur.
The project involves a complete street reconstruction, replacement of water main and sanitary utilities, other utilities additions, retaining walls, riverbank restorations, trail and sidewalk improvements, a scenic river overlook area, trail and intersection lighting, pedestrian crosswalks, storm-sewer updates and improvements to Watab Park and Veterans Park.
Private utility companies have already started locating or re-locating lines for gas, cable television, telephone and electricity.
The street and related improvements will be undertaken in three phases at different times, although a particular phase may start before another phase is entirely completed.
Phase 1 involves Fourth Street N. to Seventh Street N., Phase 2 from Seventh Street N. to 12th Street N and Phase 3 from Sartell Street to Fourth Street N.
The project’s team includes the City of Sartell, Stearns County, SEH and Landwehr Construction, along with subcontractors.
The following are things to keep in mind as the project progresses through the summer:
Stakes, flags
Residents should not remove or relocate wooden stakes or colored utility flags during the course of the project. The stakes and flags are essential for the team to do its work, as well as for utility workers.
Mailboxes
Once the project is well underway, residents’ mailboxes along the street will be removed, salvaged and replaced. In the meantime, mail will be delivered to a “mailbox bank” whose location will be determined by the post office and then communicated to the affected properties. Near the end of the project, the contractor will re-install the mailboxes, with the post office to determine how and where the boxes will be placed.
Detours
At times during the project, traffic will be detoured to Pinecone Road from Second Street N. and 27th Street N, depending on which of the three phases is being done.
There might also be partial road closures and a slower flow of traffic so motorists should pay close attention to signage and advisories.
Disruptions
Project team members will inform all residents and businesses along the construction route about when and how driveway access or other services might be limited.
Residents should relocate or replace in-ground sprinkler systems or other impediments such as pet-containment areas that are within the off-the-roadway right-of-way areas required for the project.
The project team will work with refuse haulers and residents to coordinate pick-up efforts.
The contractor will at times have to connect residents’ homes or business places to temporary water access. Minimal disruptions are expected, and all residents will be kept informed before and during the temporary disruptions.
Private improvements
Residents who might want to have improvements done to their driveways or private utility lines from the right-of-way to their homes. To coordinate that private work with the street reconstruction, call Landwehr Construction at 320-241-9446.
Questions?
Anyone with questions about any aspect of the project as it’s being done should be directed to SEH Project Representative Jessica Funt-Schustak at 320-402-4581 (cell phone) or SEH Project Engineer April Ryan at 320-229-4329.
The Stearns County Engineer is Jodi Teich: 320-255-6180. The Sartell Public Works Director is John Kothenbeutel: 320-258-7339.
