Contractors are set to continue work on Red River Road until the weather stops them.
The roadway has seen multiple closures as part of the North Core Street Scape Project.
The project includes the replacement of sewer and watermains on Red River Road and Court Street, as well as significant beautification of streets and sidewalks.
The intersection of Cumberland and Red River Road has been reopened, but Red River between Cumberland and Court Street, is still closed.
Decorative pavers (large stones used in place of concrete or asphalt)installation is complete on the south side of Red River and the hope is that the north side will be complete in the first few days of November.
“Then they’re going to transition into road pavers (Decorative pavers for the road) and the road pavers will start at Cumberland and work their way up towards Court Street if the weather is good, we’re going to keep working, the contractor has a type of enclosure they’re going to put down and try to keep the project rolling because the more we get done this year, the less we have next year,” explained Senior Project Engineer Brian Newman. “So the intent is to get at least beyond Saint Paul with the road pavers.
He added that the weather is looking good and they hope they can keep working for the next few weeks.
“In the next couple of weeks, we can work in cooler temperatures, we’re just putting down an aggregate that we can keep heated.”
The businesses in the area have been affected by construction reducing vehicle traffic but the BIA has told city engineers that they want them to keep pushing as long as they can on Red River.
“When we run out of season, we’ll transition the paver finished product to the concrete base the way it is with some temporary asphalt and we’ll just open the street and that will happen fairly quickly like you’ll just see the season end, (then) we’re going to start this process and within a day or two, right, it will be open,” added Newman. “But the plan is to keep going for the next two to three weeks for sure on Red River.”
The bulk of the major work was completed this year and work heading into next year should be less disruptive to businesses and the area.
“We have to finish up the road and then all the planters, the granitic planters are complete, but there’s a bunch of benches that go on top of them,” explained Newman. “There’s some work along Mall St.”
“It’s this little kind of connector towards the casino that will get done next year (with) some festoon lighting going on there as well. The intersection of Red River and Court needs to be torn up, just the asphalt surface and we’re putting down pavers there, so that’s a couple of days of work maybe a week and then all the planting will happen next season.”
“But for the most part, the work next season will be less invasive on the businesses like sidewalks are done, the road may be shut down for short terms, but not for long terms, and so it’ll be business as usual down there.”
He added that they are working hard to try and get Red River Road fully opened up and flowing as quickly as possible in the spring because there are other projects on the horizon.
“We’re doing a big project at Cumberland and Water St. with a new roundabout and that’s going to occupy that area, so we’re trying to move from one section downtown to another and redirect traffic just because there’s so much work that’s happening in the coming years down there, so you’re just trying to give some of the businesses a break from time to time.”
He stressed that regardless of the work it’s still worth coming down and visiting local businesses.
“You know, realize all those businesses have been open all along and you don’t have to wait for the street to be open to head back down. I always like to say even for Simpson and Red River, like businesses are open, just park on the side street and walk up because it’s they’re all very accessible.”
