Winter weather closing in on local highway projects

More concrete was placed Monday on Superior’s Fourth Street project. Hopefully, that means the street will be reopened in a week or so. While some concrete work remains the driving lanes had been paved. The eastern portion which serves Casey’s truck island has already been opened.

Near the end of the work day Monday procession of highway construction monsters krept west along Superior’s Third Street. Hopefullyu that means the grinding of the old asphalt off of Highway 14 between Superior and five mile corner is finished and the work replacing the pavement can continue at top speed and be finiished before the temperature forces a winter shutdown.

The bad news is that Tuesday morning similar work started delaying traffic on Highway 14 between the stateline and Superior.

Hopefully our unseasonably warm weather will hold on long enough to get the new asphalt placed but the National Weather Service forecast includes the possibility of frost for freezing temperatures on Friday night.

The last time that portion of Highway 14 between Superior and the stateline underwent a major resurfacing, the work was slowed by cold temperatures and some folks questioned if the asphalt would hold up because of the cold. Could be a repeat this year.

This week harvest traffic is the heaviest it has been this fall and the road construction is adding to the time it takes to bring a load to town and return to the field. Harvest drivers are known for not liking to wait in elevator lines. The same is probably true for road construction lines.

Thus far only limited work has been on the Highway 8 that was to be done this year.