Posted: 3/22/05
La Crescent bridge project approved by county board
La Crescentís huge bridge and road construction project received city approval on March 14 by a 4-1 vote.
Houston County Engineer Allen Henke updated commissioners on it at their March 15 meeting.
He described the project with the help of a colorful diagram. A new bridge and intersection will be built to the north of the present one. The Pump and Munch gas station/convenience store and a house will be removed as part of the project.
North Second Street wonít be reconstructed, Henke said, and there will be no jurisdictional swap between the county and city.
The dike (Highway 61) that connects La Crescent to La Crosse will be open as much as possible during the project, Henke said. Work will start in July of 2006 and take about a year.
The total cost of the project will be $15 million, with $13.6 paid by the state of Minnesota, $1 million by the City of La Crescent, and $500,000 by the county.
The cityís vote on March 14 resolved a contentious debate between city and state officials over the scope and design of the project. City officials had asked that their concerns be heard by a state appeals board. Nelrae Succio, MnDOT district engineer, denied that request in a letter dated March 4. She also thanked the city council ìfor its commitment through this long and arduous process.î
Road restrictions in place
Henke also reported that weight restrictions on county roads were to be put in place on March 17. ìThis is the latest itís been in a long time,î he said.
Caledonia Argus
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