Blair street project to begin in July

A project that will include the complete reconstruction of the only street that runs from west to east through the Blair city limits will begin in early July.

Technically, the project will begin on July 1 with the posting of a sign. Actual construction is set to begin on July 5, according to Charles Pearman of Short, Elliott Hendrickson, the engineering firm that is overseeing the project for the city.

Pearman and Brad Nielsen, project manager for A1 Excavating, held a public hearing at the Blair Community Center last week Tuesday, explaining details of the project to those whose residences will be impacted. Though many won’t be impacted until 2024 and Pearman told attendees that only the first phase of the project — a portion of Pearl St. and Broadway St. up to the Main St. intersection — will be done this year. 

Pearman explained that the project will include complete road construction with the replacement of sanitary, sewer and storm utilities. He said there will be trenches that are eight-to-13 feet or “deeper in some areas” dug in front of the residences as construction crews work.

“Ideally, we’ll have those trenches covered by the end of the night so there is at least a passable lane for you to enter your homes in the evening,” Pearman said. 

Though Pearman added there will be at least a seven-day period in which new concrete will be poured and cannot be driven on. The project will also include new sidewalks, which can be walked on within seven days, but cannot hold the weight of a vehicle. 

Pearman said that the intersection of Broadway and Main St. will be closed for a period of time, meaning people who want to get from one side of the city to the other will have to drive through Riverside Memorial Park. 

Pearman said there also may be instances where water to homes is shut off as crews work to replace water and sanitary services. 

Neither Pearman nor Nielsen were able to say when construction on the second phase of the project would begin in 2024. 

“It depends on how much snow we get, how deep the frost goes,” Pearman said. 

The entire project must be completed by Aug. 30 of 2024.