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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 05.bPublicWorks October 2013 Lakeville Positioned to Thrive ❖ Construction Project Updates Interstate -35 Construction. Interstate 35 between County Road 2 near Elko and County Road 50 in Lakeville opened both north and southbound lanes through Lakeville last week. Though open, both north and southbound lanes may be limited in some locations to single lane in each direction. Single lane traffic will primarily occur as crews remove the crossovers and barriers and restripe the roadway. With the reopening of northbound lanes, the ramp at 185th Street to northbound 1 -35 has reopened. However, there may still be temporary non -peak lane closures until work is completed in November. The focus of this project is to provide a smoother ride and extended road life, reduce short -term maintenance costs, and repair and paint bridges where needed. For additional updates please see the I- 35/I -35E improvements _ page at the Mn DOT website. LAKEVILLE PUBLIC WORKS Christopher Petree, Director October 2013 Construction projects both in and around the City are moving toward completion. 1 Street Reconstruction. All phases of the street reconstruction project in Valley Park are effectively complete. The asphalt wear course has been paved and landscape restoration is complete. In Clays Acres and 204th Street the asphalt base course has been paved and crews are busy restoring landscaping and doing minor clean up behind the curb. 168th Street Bridge Replacement. Slowly, the many pieces of the bridge replacement over North Creek are coming together and nearing completion. The bridge deck has been poured and what remains is to pave the approaches to the bridge from 168th Street and Gannon Avenue. Project completion is planned for early November. 2 ❖ Snowplow Operator Training October is a transition month for Streets and Utilities Division staff, making sure that people, equipment, and infrastructure are ready for winter. For the equipment, inspections are made, worn parts replaced, and plows and sanders made ready for the inevitable Minnesota winter. For infrastructure, hydrants are drained to make sure they won't freeze and streets throughout the City are checked for valve and manhole covers that are above grade. It doesn't take much of an elevation change in a manhole to stop a snowplow in its tracks. For people, it's all about training. Each October, the Streets Division coordinates training through the Dakota County Technical College for both new and experienced plow operators. Using City plow trucks, our operators spend a day in classroom and on the road course understanding how the trucks operate and gaining confidence in handling a heavy vehicle. Additionally, this year for the first time, the Public Works Department and the Parks Maintenance Division took a safety day to train specifically on the City's snow removal equipment. They learned everything from hooking up attachments to operating in close quarters to best plowing practices. The training also included a road course to teach plowing techniques for regular plow trucks and those with underbody plows since both handle differently and require an awareness of how the truck fits into the space around it. 3 Private Hydrant Maintenance The Utilities Division has completed its first year under the new hydrant maintenance policy. This policy details the City's inspection and maintenance practices in accordance with the State Fire Code and sets a standard for repair and maintenance of both public and private hydrants. Mailings to private hydrant owners described the policy and emphasized private hydrant owner responsibilities. There are 99 private hydrant owners in Lakeville and incorporates 373 additional hydrants into the City's inventory. Over the course of the summer, each of these hydrants was inspected and exercised with 16 of the hydrants being tagged out of service with repairs needed to restore function and 11 others that needed either minor repairs or preventive maintenance. This has been an extremely necessary to maintain the safety of both residents and Winter No Parking A reminder that winter no parking went into effect on 1 November and will continue through 31 March 2014. Winter no parking prohibits parking on City streets between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. every day and whenever a 2 -inch accumulation is forecast. Residents with questions or concerns about winter no parking restrictions should contact the police department. successful program and one businesses. NO ON STREET PARKING 2AM-6AM NOV 1 -APR 1 tam?::s 4 4