Steve Emery, a civil engineer with Widseth Smith Nolting, a firm the city contracts for engineering services, said he didn't foresee the remaining construction having an impact on traffic headed to the plant.
"I don't know about American Crystal Sugar or the farmers, but I think if it was a huge deal, we would have received phone calls, and we haven't received any," he said.
With asphalt being laid Monday, Emery said he expects construction to be completed Wednesday or Thursday but could be done as early as today.
It's good news to Fire Chief Gary Larson. During construction, fire engines at the DeMers Avenue fire station couldn't exit onto Fourth Street. When responding to calls, trucks have been exiting from the station's north garage doors and driving through the adjacent parking lot.
"We're running trucks out the back of the station, and it adds a minute amount of time for us to swing our trucks through the parking lot," he said. "But what do you do — what has to be done has to be done."
Though the construction has been a hinderance, Larson said he'll be happy when it's done for another reason. As part of the project, adjustments will be made to nearby curbs, gutters and the entrance to the fire station from the street.
"We had issues with the street out here doing damage to our trucks, so actually we're happy to get it fixed," Larson said.
A steep dip between the station's exit and the street resulted in a broken shock absorber on one of the trucks.
The water main replacement originally cost $523,000, but a $31,000 change order addressing needed sanitary sewer and storm sewer repairs in the same area was approved by the city's Water and Light Commission in July, according to meeting minutes.
Source: www.grandforksherald.com