Permanent paving set to begin on Broadway
Work resumed on I-35 bridge last week
Jennifer Mevissen
Staff Writer
Despite a 20-day state government shutdown, the Broadway Avenue Improvement Project is gearing up for Stage 3.
This phase includes switching traffic from the south side of the road. Reconstruction from 19th Street to 8th Street will continue this week.
After a 20 day state government shutdown, construction of the Broadway Avenue bridge over 1-35 in Forest Lake has resumed. The remainder of the footing, four crash barrier sections, and two columns were all constructed. Crews poured concrete in the median piers last Friday. (Photo by Jennifer Mevissen)
“Paving on the south side of Broadway Avenue is scheduled to begin Monday, Aug. 8. Weather permitting, of course,” said Mindy Leadholm, Washington County’s business liaison on the project.
She noted that will take approximately two weeks. The tentative timeline has paving on the north side starting sometime the week of Aug. 22, Leadholm said.
However, she said a temporary “frontage road” on the south side of Broadway Ave. will open this week, and will be a narrow one-way (westbound only) between 7th Street and SW 12th St.
“Basically, they’ll be driving on what will be the new bike path,” Leadholm said.
It should aid in providing access to businesses during this stage, she added. Leadholm explained there will still be one lane in either direction on Broadway, but if motorists want to access a business on the south side, they will need to take that frontage road to do so.
She said the backage road – NW 1st Avenue – and NW 8th Street are open to traffic and should be used as an alternate route to visit businesses on the north side of the road. Currently, temporary access to Broadway Ave. is being maintained at businesses that do not have access via NW 1st Ave.
Tim Caris, owner of On Broadway Car Wash and Detail Center, said his sales have been significantly impacted by the project. It’s an impulse buy for customers to clean the exterior/interior of their vehicles, which is why he says it’s vital to have access from the front of the business.
“Obviously with the road construction they can’t get in,” Caris said.
The convenience of purchasing a service has decreased even with the backage road in place, he said. Caris pointed out that it requires an extra two turns to access his business.
“It’s amazing the loyalty we’ve got,” he said.
‘Go Local’
To help boost sales, and morale, 18 affected businesses are offering values to keep customers coming in their doors during this time. The Go Local Discount Card can be picked-up at all participating businesses: American Legion Post 225, BP Gas, On Broadway Car Wash and Detail Center, Burger King, Culver’s, ERA Muske Company, Holiday Gas, Jiffy Lube, Koppy Motors, Mansetti’s, McDonald’s, MGM Wine & Spirits, Taco John’s, Tires Plus, UPS Store, Walgreens, Wally McCarthy’s Chevrolet-Cadillac, and Whitaker Buick GMC.
“We’re trying to stick together as businesses for the local customers,” Caris said of the discount card.
At On Broadway, which serves Dunn Brothers coffee, you can get $2 off an Ultimate Car Wash or $1 off a Deluxe Car Wash. He said it’s tough to discount a service when sales are off so much. Prices haven’t increased in six years, Caris added.
“If you’ve neglected coming down Broadway Avenue because of road construction, we’re still there so stop by and we’ll take care of you,” he said.
Work Continues
This week, work will continue on the SW 8th St. drainage basins. If weather holds up, Leadholm said the remainder of the north side of Broadway from SW 12th St. to I-35 will be paved on Thursday with a temporary bituminous layer.
Readying temporary interchange ramps is underway, and work will begin on the permanent exits. Construction of the bridge over I-35 resumed last week. The remainder of the footing, four crash barrier sections, and two columns were all constructed.
Crews poured concrete in the median piers on Friday.
She said that Xcel Energy continues to work on power pole relocations on the north side of Broadway Ave. from 12th St. to 8th St., which is estimated to take another couple weeks. Other utility relocations will proceed between 7th St. and Centennial Drive on the north side.
