Crews will pour concrete for the bridge deck at the Manning Avenue junction, construct a storm sewer line, and resurface Minnesota 36 between Little Canada and Stillwater during the next two months, causing delays for motorists.
The first is the commencement of a $14.9 million road resurfacing project on Minnesota 36 between Little Canada’s Edgerton Street and Stillwater’s Greeley Street. Weather permitting, that will begin at 7 a.m. Monday.
According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, motorists may expect middle and shoulder closures in Pine Springs and Stillwater as workmen prepare to build the traffic crossovers that will be utilized during the directional weekend closures this summer.
During the resurfacing works, vehicles will face lane restrictions and access closures in addition to weekend closures. The majority of the work will be done during the day, but employees will also have to work at night to avoid parts of the highway’s heavy traffic during the day, according to MnDOT officials.
Throughout the renovation, all businesses and houses will be accessible, however cars may have to take an alternative route. The project is scheduled to be finished in the fall of 2022.
In various areas of the project area, construction includes pavement resurfacing, drainage work, and pedestrian accessibility. The 12-mile stretch of Minnesota 36 between Little Canada and Stillwater will be repaved, have increased drainage, better traffic signals, and greater pedestrian accessibility once completed.
A concrete pour for the bridge deck at Manning Avenue and the installation of storm sewer pipes are the next steps in the construction of the new $32 million grade-separated junction. The construction will take place towards the end of April and the beginning of May.
Both the eastbound and westbound lanes of Minnesota 36 will be blocked from 7 p.m. April 29 to noon April 30 to allow the concrete to strengthen before cars are allowed to travel beneath the bridge. The eastbound lanes will be stopped until 5 a.m. May 2 to allow contractors to construct a storm sewer line connecting the ponds on the north and south sides of the roadway.
The construction will continue the following weekend, with the westbound lanes shut down from 7 p.m. on May 6 to 5 a.m. on May 9, according to Washington County officials.
According to Gerritt Bangma, Washington County’s construction engineer, the project will increase capacity, safety, and traffic operations, as well as maintain and improve local access, maintain a northwest frontage road link, and create multi-use trail connections.
A difficult temporary bend at the junction of Minnesota 36 and Manning is also getting some delineation. Traffic traveling south on Manning who wish to get west on Minnesota 36 must now travel east on the ramp that will later be utilized by drivers traveling north on Manning.
During snowstorms, some cars have missed the bend and ended off off the road. Several have landed in the pond at the ramp’s bottom.
The inclusion of signs, as well as complete junction illumination, is likely to assist, according to authorities.
