Cliff Buchan
Forest Lake Times

Major reconstruction of W. Broadway Ave. in the spring and summer of 2008 should not greatly impact the annual Independence Day celebration here.

Chip Robinson, city administrator, said this week, he believes city and county officials will be able to phase the 2008 road projects that include the addition of seven roundabouts along the county highway from SW 19th St. east to Lake Street (US-61) in downtown Forest Lake.

With the design and construction plans still in the preliminary stage, Robinson believes there is ample time to begin that discussion with officials from American Legion Post 225, the annual celebration sponsor for the past 82 years

ìWe need to get together with the American Legion,î Robinson said. ìIt (meetings) probably should start right after the Fourth of July.î

That will give the city and Legion members almost two years to make sure all aspects of the Broadway project and the Legion celebration are in concert.

Bob Flaherty, a spokesperson for Post 225, said the Legion has raised some fears that the road project could cause major problems for the parade route which follows parts of Broadway, and the Legion grounds as a carnival site. If celebration attendees canít get to the Legion grounds, the event will suffer a big financial hit, Flaherty said.

No need to worry

Not to worry, Robinson adds.

He said it is likely the project could be phased to avoid or limit construction problems on the east end of the county highway. That area could be done over the second half of the summer, he said.

ìBroadway will remain open all of the time,î Robinson said. ìI donít see any reason why they canít have the parade (in 2008).î

A staging plan should also be possible for US-61 in 2008, the administrator said.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation and the city are combining efforts for that project, likely in the spring or summer of 2008. The plan calls for a pavement overlay to US-61 and new sidewalks, curb and gutter and street lights from 2nd Avenue S. to 2nd Avenue N.

The sidewalks and street lights are tied to a city downtown redevelopment plan that will coordinate its look with the new Lakeside Park and the E. Broadway Ave. design.

Flaherty said Post 225 members are anxious to meet with city officials at the earliest possible date in planning steps for 2008.

Along with Broadway from 6th Street east to Centennial Drive, Lake Street is the second major street in the parade route. The parade follows Lake Street south from 2nd Ave. N. to 4th Ave. S where the route turns west and ends at the Central Learning Center on SW 4th St.

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