The Hazel Avenue Project nears its conclusion this week as the countdown to Kimball Days is just about to begin. According to contractor Jeremy Kuechle, by the end of the week the first phase of the project will be finished. The black top has been laid up to Magnus Johnson Street. “From there Thielen is working on a subgrade,” Kuechle said. According to Kuechle, a subgrade is when material is cut down before a sand section is put in. After the sand section goes in, recycled milling and class five (an aggregate material with a binding quality that provides a stable base for blacktop) are layered above it. At this point, the curb can be put on and the class five, toleranced. Then they can blacktop. Sidewalks will be added to blacktopped streets this week, Kuechle said. “Hopefully west of Magnus Johnson will be ready for curb by the week’s end,” Kuechle said. If the blacktop is done by the end of next week, Kuechle will have met his goal to complete the project in time for Kimball Days. But whether he is able to meet that goal depends on several factors out of Kuechle’s control. “There is the weather,” Kuechle said. “If it stays dry I think we can make it. It also depends on the subcontractors.” Kuechle Underground is only responsible for the pipe work, Kuechle said. Thielen does the road work and Bauerly Bros. does the blacktop. “Our work, our contract, hinges on when they can get here. There is the possibility there could be a 1-2 day lag time that is out of our control,” Kuechle said. Kuechle also said that so far he is on schedule to meet phase one and ahead on phase two. “It’s going pretty well,” he said. “But it’s going to be close.” If the Hazel Avenue Project is not completed by Kimball Days, Deputy City Clerk Chris Jeppesen, who is in charge of organizing the festivities, said not to worry. “There will be a parade and there will be a street dance,” said Jeppesen. According to Jeppesen, she was assured the street will be blocked off to Highway 55. In the event the project is not complete, there is a backup plan. “I will know by Monday what we are going to do,” Jeppesen said. Jeppesen confirmed the starting point of the parade will be at Kimball Area High School, but right now she isn’t sure where it will end. “In next week’s paper we will let everyone know what is going on,” she said. “We will put in maps. But right now any more information will just confuse people.”
