Q: I’m just wondering about the project in LeHillier on County Road 69, which was formerly Highway 169 back before you were born. What the hell are they doing? And what for? I was down there looking, and there was one guy working. I asked at the convenience store, and they said it was supposed to be done in October. October?! It’s only a quarter-mile long. What the hell?
A: Blue Earth County Road 69, aka the former Highway 169, aka Old Highway 60, aka South Bend Avenue is getting a $2.4 million reconstruction this year. And hopefully that one worker got plenty of additional help when our reader wasn’t looking — because the reconstruction effort actually stretches for about 1.4 miles rather than a quarter-mile.
The improvements begin on County Road 69’s far eastern end near the intersection with the current Highway 169/Highway 60. The work continues all the way west to Pintail Street, which runs along the edge of Minneopa Golf Club.
The extent of the reconstruction on the road, which has long been designed as a rural roadway with ditches and narrow gravel shoulders, varies greatly between the western half of the project and the eastern half, where more dramatic changes are coming.
The project’s western half — the part between County Road 33 and Pintail Street — will be focused on renewing the current driving lanes through a bituminous mill and overlay. The eastern half, stretching from County Road 33 to the junction with Highway 169, will receive new bituminous pavement, 12-foot driving lanes with shoulders 4-6 feet wide and it will be designed to handle up to 10-ton vehicles. That section will also see a new urban design complete with curb and gutter and a multi-use trail on the north side of County Road 69.
County Engineer and Public Works Director Ryan Thilges, by the way, said there’s definitely more than a single person assigned to the project, which is making good progress.
“The contractor currently has a crew working on installing the road edge drain and will begin aggregate base and then curb and gutter following that,” Thilges said.
Q: Could we add one more thing?
A: In response to an Ask Us column this spring related to bike-lane rules and biker safety, a reader wanted to offer a reminder as people prepare to start spinning those pedals during Minnesota’s warm weather months. Ask Us Guy, getting a little long winded with his answers in the weeks that followed, never had room to include the valuable advice — until now.
“I enjoyed your Q and A regarding biking but there are additional ways to bike safer in addition to a helmet which I would appreciate being published in your fine column,” the reader wrote. “As an avid high mileage senior biker in Mankato, I highly recommend a bright yellow safety jacket and a flashing white light on the front of a bike with a flashing red light on the rear. The bright jacket and flashing lights call attention to a biker when many drivers are only looking for another motor vehicle and not a bicycle.”
The man went on to say that the greatest risk for bike riders might be any pedestrian crossing where there is a stop sign or light.
“Most drivers have no intention of making a complete stop and are only looking to their left for an opening in the traffic. Proactively, I expect ALL drivers to make their turn without seeing me which is often true.”
He emphasizes, of course, the wisdom of wearing a helmet. But there’s other attire that can be protective when a wipe-out occurs.
“To mitigate road rash, I also recommend riding gloves, long pants and substantial shoes. As a courtesy to others, announce oneself before passing on trails by loudly saying, ‘On your left.’ We are blessed with many riding opportunities in the Mankato area so go for a safe bike ride and enjoy the great outdoors.”
Contact Ask Us at The Free Press, 418 S. Second St., Mankato, MN 56001. Call Mark Fischenich at 344-6321 or email your question to mfischenich@mankatofreepress.com; put Ask Us in the subject line.