Caledonia Argus

County Road 3 ready for business

Posted: 10/7/03

By David Heiller
Argus News Editor

County Road 3 between Caledonia and Brownsville is almost officially open.

Houston County Engineer Allen Henke said on October 6 that the 3.5-mile stretch between County Road 24 and Gavin Road should be ready for motorists by the end of this week.

ìTwo good days should pretty well wrap things up,î he said. ìI donít want to promise weíll be open by the end of the week, but weíre kind of anticipating it. It depends on the weather and whether the sub-contractor can get there and get the work done.î

The project was on hold for some time, waiting for final placement of rock. There was a delay because this project was tied up with the state project in Hokah, and Hokahís had a higher priority, Henke said. The same sub-contractor, Roverud Construction of Spring Grove, is doing the rock placement for both jobs.

Generally speaking, the $1.2 million project has gone well, Henke said. Weather was decent for most of it, except for a wet, cold spring.

The stretch of narrow, twisting road has been completely reconstructed. The existing pavement was taken off, and some of the curves have been realigned and straightened. New culverts and an aggregate base were put in.

Any soft spots in the spring will determine whether it is paved next year, Henke said. It will be crushed rock until then.

Once completed, the new road will complement the rest of the 12-mile route between Caledonia and Brownsville, most of which has been rebuilt and resurfaced in the past 15 years.

The final phase will take place next year when the hill to Brownsville will be widened, remilled, and re-paved. That should not result in a road closure or detour, Henke said.

People who live on the road, like Dave and Debbie Giblin, are happy to see the present project near completion. They live on the corner of County Road 3 and Malay Road, which is west of the construction zone.

ìItís been a real pain for us,î Dave said on October 5. Theyíve had to take backroads to their jobs in La Crosse, and they have put up with three years of dust.

John Schmitz of Brownsville had to reroute two of his school buses through Hokah and Freeburg because of the construction, but it only added about five minutes to each route. ìWeíve been on it now for about two weeks,î he said on October 5.

ìIt will be well worth it when they get it done,î Schmitz added. ìIt was getting broke up pretty bad.î

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