News Summary
Construction delays at the West College Drive and Saratoga Street intersection are causing concerns for safe access to Southview Elementary and Marshall Middle School. With school starting soon, R and G Construction is taking measures to ensure student safety, including establishing a designated crossing path. The ongoing construction is part of a broader initiative to improve local infrastructure, as the Minnesota Department of Transportation oversees the new roundabout and utility work near the National Guard Armory. Parents are advised to plan alternative routes to navigate the construction zone.
Marshall – Construction delays have emerged at the intersection of West College Drive and Saratoga Street as work continues on a new roundabout and utility line placement near the National Guard Armory. Despite ongoing paving efforts, the intersection is not likely to open for vehicle traffic before the start of school next week. Classes at Southview Elementary and Marshall Middle School are set to begin on Wednesday, prompting concerns for safe access for students.
As part of the construction, the Saratoga Street intersection was closed last week to facilitate necessary concrete paving work. R and G Construction, responsible for the project, is in communication with Marshall Public Schools to address the impact of these delays on school traffic. To ensure the safety of children crossing the intersection, a designated path with a hard surface will be established.
Construction crews are nearing the completion of water and sewer pipe installations and grading work in the area. They expect to integrate the ends of the intersection with the rest of the street within a week or two, assuming favorable weather conditions. Utility relocation efforts are also underway as part of the renovations occurring at this busy junction.
Beginning Monday, traffic will be restricted from crossing the construction zone at the West College Drive and Saratoga Street intersection. R and G Construction is scheduled to start concrete road surface work at 6:30 a.m., and motorists are advised to seek alternative routes as nearby Highway 19 crossings will remain open for traffic. Detours will be in effect on Lyon County Road 7 and Minnesota Highway 23, although some segments around the construction area are still accessible to local traffic.
In addition to the work at the intersection, further reconstruction efforts are evident on West College Drive near the National Guard Armory. The Minnesota Department of Transportation is overseeing the construction of the new roundabout at this three-way intersection, with grading work continuing alongside utility updates.
Following this current construction stage, a fourth and final phase of work on College Drive, stretching between Legion Field and Fourth Street, is anticipated to begin in the fall. There will be a slight gap between the current construction activities and the initiation of this final phase, but plans are in place to ensure a smooth transition.
The ongoing construction projects are part of the broader Marshall Energy Center initiative, which began with a groundbreaking ceremony on July 22. This $175 million energy project, part of the Missouri Public Utility Alliance’s “Building MO Power” initiative, will consist of four natural gas turbines installed in two phases, with operations set to commence in 2026 and conclude in 2029. The energy center is projected to generate 134 megawatts in winter and 99 megawatts in summer, which is sufficient to supply three cities the size of Marshall.
The Marshall Energy Center aims to improve the reliability of the electric grid and maintain affordable energy costs for local residents and businesses. Moreover, the community can expect job creation, support for infrastructure development, and overall enhancements to local vitality as these construction projects progress.
As the start of the school year approaches, R and G Construction plans to have representatives present at the intersection to assist children in navigating the changes and ensuring their safety. With marked crossings and proper pathways established, parents can be assured that measures are being taken to facilitate safe passage for students during this time of construction.
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Additional Resources
- Marshall Independent: Construction Work Continues on Saratoga Intersection
- KOMU: Natural Gas Energy Facility Set to Break Ground in Marshall
- Marshall News: New Marshall Energy Center Celebrated with Groundbreaking Ceremony
- Wikipedia: Marshall, Missouri
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Marshall, Missouri
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