NORTH MANKATO — A major $3.8 million reconstruction of the heavily used Sherman Street in lower North Mankato is set to begin this spring.
The reconstruction isn’t on the entire stretch of the road, but runs from South Avenue to Monroe Avenue — stopping six blocks before it connects to Webster Avenue.
While most of the project is typical reconstruction and upgrades, a two-block stretch of Sherman, south of Belgrade Avenue, has attracted particular attention.
At their meeting Tuesday night, the City Council voted to accept the final design plans for the total project and put out a request for bids, which will be opened and a contractor considered for approval at their March 18 meeting.
The city’s Traffic & Safety Committee and the council have had several meetings looking at the excessive speed of vehicles between Belgrade Avenue and South Avenue, where the road goes onto the North Star Bridge and Highway 169. Residents, bicyclists and pedestrians have voiced concerns about traffic that routinely is driving well above the posted speed limit.
The council Tuesday accepted plans aimed at reducing speed by converting the section of street from what is now a one-way street to a two-way.
City Engineer Dan Sarff, of Bolton & Menk, said the two block stretch of road has no traffic justification for a one-way.
“It’s a very wide roadway and kind of gives the perception of a drag strip.”
That section will have a shared bike lane and parallel parking on both sides of the street.
There will be bump-outs at the intersections of Sherman Street/South Avenue and Sherman Street/Nicollet Avenue.
There will also likely be a three-way stop installed at the intersection of Sherman Street and South Avenue.
Design plans for the entire Sherman Street project calls for replacing existing city sanitary sewers with new plastic pipe and manhole covers, replacing existing cast iron water mains with new plastic pipes and new fire hydrants, as well as constructing a new storm sewer system.
The project will also mean all homes will get new auto-reading water meters, which property owners will pay for. The city has been moving toward replacing the mechanical-read water meters with automatic ones.
The street itself will be bituminous pavement built to current standards and new sidewalks that are 5 feet wide. Concrete driveway aprons will be installed and all disturbed turf will be restored.
Eight new mid-block street lights will also be installed.