Takin’ it to the streets (crews)

You have probably heard “man on the street” interviews popularized in television and radio news broadcasts.

Well, we here at the Patriot newspaper conducted “man in the street” interviews this summer during downtown reconstruction with crews down and dirty in the street outside our office on Elm doing the work.

Our conversations followed the project from asphalt removal, to utility infrastructure replacement, to repaving, to sidewalk placement, and now to near completion.

Along the way we learned quite a few things: 1) That there is lots of stuff in and under our streets — an intricate array of infrastructure like sewer and water lines, storm sewer and other utilities; 2) that there definitely is a prescribed process for performing infrastructure work; 3) that project designers, managers and work crews have adopted more efficient techniques over the years for piping removal, replacement and other construction activities; 4) that despite lots of mechanized equipment the work is still labor intensive; and 5) that construction crews are committed to their craft

It also got us thinking about the intricacies of the project and the magnitude of work occurring not just outside our doors, but across this and other communities, at the county level, and metropolises across the United States.

One big question we asked along the way is: Why do crews dig, fill, then re-dig a street?

The simple answer is that in a downtown project like this there is no where else to put the dirt, said Colin Quinn, onsite construction representative for project engineer Bolton & Menk. It’s not like a new development where there is adequate open space. Other adjacent streets are in use so crews must dig and a re-fill at each stage of the work.

The installation stages go like this: Sanitary sewer first, water lines next, and then storm sewer. Quinn notes that Waconia also is committed to stormwater reuse, so installation of irrigation systems is another element in this project.

Some important factors in the project are soil conditions, planning and design, scope and scheduling, materials, drainage, weather — and striking a balance between contractor work and the needs of local businesses needing to accommodate clients and accept deliveries. That’s where Quinn comes in.

Quinn has been doing construction work for 57 years, the past several years as a construction liaison for Bolton and Menk. He is now 80 years old, but is constantly running in his role. He says the work keeps him young, and construction is seasonal so he is able to take time off to travel.

He also still plays in two old-tiimer baseball leagues — age 50-plus and age 60-plus (he’s the oldest player on each team). And after this road project he is taking to his own road on a trip to the Pacific Northwest, and later this year a senior league baseball adventure in Arizona.

Construction update

The 2024 downtown construction project is nearing completion, according to latest reports.

Stage 1 around City Square Park was completed and construction fencing removed in time for Nickle Dickle Day this Saturday, Sept 14. Stage 2 at Main and Elm streets is close to complete with utilities in place and pavement and sidewalk laid over the past two weeks. The entire project area is expected to be open to traffic by the end of September.

Meanwhile, construction on Waconia Parkway North was slated to begin after Labor Day with a mill and overlay — removal of the top layer of pavement then repaving the roadway from almost County Highway 10 to Scott Lane. The project also includes related trail improvements. The very west end of the roadway is excluded from the project because it will be included in a 2025 project to construction a roundabout at the intersection of Waconia Parkway North and County Highway 10.