Wright County Highway Engineer Virgil Hawkins has released the timeline for the Highway 19 and 38 project between Otsego and Albertville, which is going to begin Monday, April 13. Here is that timeline:

Construction to begin on Highway 19 and Highway 38 Reconstruction Project – Monday, April 13, 2020

Project Background

Highway 19 (LeBeaux Avenue) and Highway 38 (70^th Street) are being reconstructed beginning Monday, April 13th, 2020. There will be multiple stages of construction for the project with work on Highway 19 and Highway 38 scheduled to begin at different times, as noted below.

Monday, April 13, 2020: Work on Highway 38 with impacts to traffic begins.

Early May, 2020: Work on Highway 19 with impacts to traffic begins.

This is a cooperative project between Wright County and the Cities of Albertville and Otsego. Most of the project will be funded using federal and state aid funds. The project will address capacity, safety and mobility issues. The project includes the following enhancements:

• Convert Highway 19 to a four-lane, divided roadway from the I-94 to Highway 38

• Lighting and landscaping within the medians on Highway 19

• Convert Highway 38 to a three-lane roadway from Highway 19 to MacIver Avenue

• Multi-use paths on each side of Highway 19 and Highway 38

• Highway 19 and Outlet Mall Driveway

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      • Added turn lanes

      • New traffic signal

• Roundabout intersections:

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      • Highway 19 & 67^th Street,

      • Highway 19 & Highway 38

      • Highway 38 & MacIver Avenue

• Intersection lighting

• Enhanced drainage

Construction Schedule

The project is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 13^th and be completed by November 2020. Below is a summary of the schedule and locations of construction, subject to change:

Stage 1 – Highway 38 (from Highway 19 to MacIver Avenue): April 13 – Mid-August

The contractor will close Highway 38 from east of Highway 19 and west of MacIver Avenue.

Traffic Control:  A detour, for through traffic, will be provided along Highway 19 to Highway 37 to Highway 38. Access will be maintained for local residents.

Stage 1B – Highway 38 and MacIver Avenue Roundabout Early July – Early August

The contractor will close the intersection of Highway 38 and MacIver Avenue to construct a roundabout.

Traffic Control:  A detour, for through traffic, will be provided along Highway 19 to Highway 37 to Highway 38. Access will be maintained for local residents.

Stage 2 – Highway 19 (from I-94 ramps to 67^th Street) Northbound Lanes: Early May – Mid June

The contractor will construct the northbound lanes of Highway 19 from I-94 to 67^th Street. Access will be maintained in each direction.

Traffic Control:  Traffic will maintained in each direction. Traffic will be shifted to the west so the contractor can construct the northbound lanes.

Stage 3 – Highway 19 (from I-94 ramps to 67^th Street) Southbound Lanes: Mid June – Early August

The contractor will construct the southbound lanes of Highway 19 from I-94 to 67^th Street. Access will be maintained in both directions.

Traffic Control:  Traffic will maintained in each direction. Traffic will be shifted to the east so the contractor can construct the southbound lanes.

Stage 4 – Median on Highway 19: Mid-August

Traffic Control:  Traffic will be reduced to one lane northbound and southbound, so the contractor can build the medians. 

Stage 5 – Highway 19 from 67^th Street to Highway 38: Mid August – Mid November

The contractor will close Highway 19 from 67^th to south of Highway 38.

Traffic Control: Traffic will be detoured to Highway 38 to MacIver Avenue to Highway 37.

Questions during Construction

Status of the project will be updated periodically on the project website at www.csah19.com

If you have any additional questions, please contact:

Shannon Gwost at 320.241.9330 or Blair Randall at 612.723.5084