News Summary
Construction at the intersection of West College Drive and Saratoga Street is causing paving delays that will affect traffic flow as schools reopen. Concrete work begins Monday, prohibiting cross-traffic. Detours are in place to ensure safe passage for students, with designated pathways and personnel assisting at the intersection. Meanwhile, the ongoing infrastructure developments include the Marshall Energy Center project, which aims to enhance energy reliability and community vitality.
Marshall – Construction activity at the intersection of West College Drive and Saratoga Street has resulted in paving delays that are expected to affect traffic flow when school resumes next week. Despite ongoing work aimed at completing the intersection before the start of classes at Southview Elementary and Marshall Middle School on Wednesday, the intersection is unlikely to reopen to vehicle traffic in time.
Beginning Monday morning, traffic will be unable to cross the construction zone at the intersection as concrete road surface work initiated by R and G Construction will commence at 6:30 a.m. Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes, as other Highway 19 crossings will remain operational. Detours on Lyon County Road 7 and Minnesota Highway 23 are currently in effect as utility companies continue to relocate power lines in the area.
To ensure safe passage for school children, plans are in place for a designated pathway at the intersection, which features a hard surface for enhanced safety. R and G Construction representatives are coordinating with Marshall Public Schools to facilitate a smooth transition as classes begin. Additionally, designated personnel will be present at the intersection to assist children navigating the changes.
The Saratoga intersection was previously closed to vehicle traffic last week to allow for concrete paving work. Scott Mathiowetz from R and G Construction revealed that contractors expect to connect the ends of the intersection with the remainder of the street within one to two weeks, contingent on favorable weather conditions. As the final phases of the current construction stage draw near, crews are nearing the completion of water and sewer pipe installations critical to the project.
In conjunction with the ongoing road work, utility and grading activities are also being conducted to prepare for a new roundabout planned for the three-way intersection near the National Guard Armory. The Minnesota Department of Transportation is overseeing this construction initiative. Meanwhile, the fourth construction phase on College Drive, stretching between Legion Field and Fourth Street, is scheduled to commence in the fall, which will follow a slight intermission between the completion of the current stage and the upcoming phase.
Beyond the road construction efforts, a significant infrastructure improvement, the Marshall Energy Center, is underway. This $175 million energy project aligns with the Missouri Public Utility Alliance’s “Building MO Power” initiative and aims to bolster the reliability of the electric grid while keeping energy costs manageable for residents and businesses. Groundbreaking for the project occurred on July 22.
Once completed, the energy center will utilize four natural gas turbines, scheduled to be operational over two phases—beginning in 2026 and concluding in 2029. The facility will generate approximately 134 megawatts during the winter months and 99 megawatts in summer, which is sufficient to power three cities the size of Marshall. Local collaboration will not only aid in creating jobs but also in enhancing the community’s infrastructure and vitality as the project progresses.
With the school year approaching, all eyes are on the ongoing construction at the intersection, with community members looking forward to a safer and improved traffic situation while keeping in mind the larger infrastructure developments poised to benefit the region in the long term.
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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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