Wright County Highway 18, the borderline between St. Michael and Albertville, will finally be opened to traffic late next week. That’s according to an update from the Wright County Highway Department.
Pavement has been poured and concrete cured at the roundabouts throughout the stretch of what is also known as 50th Street. The county said shoulder work and some other improvements will be made through Friday, Oct. 12, when the road should be re-opened to traffic.
The construction hit snags as contractors attempted to install storm sewer pipe and water main pipe along the new roadway. Extra time was needed in September for removal of unsuitable soils under the roadway. Additional areas of unsuitable soils were encountered along Highway 18 that required additional, unscheduled work by the contractor. That led to major issues when school started on Sept. 4, particularly for Big Woods Elementary and St. Michae-Albertville Middle School East schools.
The county anticipates completion of remaining work on the contract in 2019, including landscaping in the roundabouts created at Naber and MacIver avenues.
