A $1.4 million highway safety and improvement project for Hwy. 55 was scheduled to begin Tuesday, Sept. 7. Turn lane construction begins west of Hwy. 15 in Kimball, and ends west of Wright County Hwy. 5 in Annandale. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) advises motorists to be alert for lane closures during the day. The construction crew will also clean, reline, extend and replace aprons on various existing culverts beneath Hwy. 55. After the turn lane has been constructed and the culvert work complete, the crew will begin milling 1.5 inches off the existing bituminous pavement on the mainline. They will then overlay 3 inches of new bituminous pavement on the mainline, and 1.5 inches on the shoulders. A pilot car and flaggers will direct traffic during the milling and paving operations. Drivers using Hwy. 55 between Kimball and Annandale are advised to use extra caution and be aware of workers and equipment on the roadway. The construction, contracted to Bauerly Brothers Inc. of Sauk Rapids, is expected to be completed in November, weather permitting. For information on road conditions or traffic incidents, call 511 or visit www.511mn.org.
