Project was previously delayed until next year

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

A $9.2 million street and utility project that was originally scheduled for this fall, only to have it indefinitely postponed until 2027, is back on again—and in a very big way.

Just weeks after the Henning City Council learned that construction on an expansive street and utility project that could replace nearly all of the remaining galvanized utility pipes in town would most likely not begin until next year, construction crews began making an appearance in town. Not only are the crews planning to start the work in Henning as soon as next week, but there is a chance as many as five different crews could be working in Henning at any given time. 

As a result, utility worker Tom Lee said a large portion of the project on Milne, Jenson and Balmoral could be completed even before this winter. 

The large project will cover portions of School Avenue, Marshall Avenue, Hipple Avenue, Front Street, Jensen Street, Milne Avenue, Minnesota Street and portions of several other streets in town. As part of the project the city will replace the existing sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer and make street surface improvements.

Lee said any part of the project that is near the school will not take place until next summer, so portions of Front St., Marshall Ave. and School Ave. will wait until next June.

“Anything that touches the school will not get touched until next year,” he said. 

Even though the project will not be completed until next year, city clerk/treasurer Jenna Kovarik said crews have staked out the project and she asked that the general public leave the stakes where they are located to ensure construction crews can get the project this fall and next summer as quickly as possible.

As part of the road and utility project, several trees in the project right-of-way will need to be removed to make way for crews and ensure they will not interfere with the new parts of the utility and road project. Even though a number of trees may be taken down, utility supervisor Adam Schwartz said there is a budget in the overall project cost to replace trees in the community. 

The cost project will be broken into two parts, a portion of which will be eligible for grant and low-interest loan funding. 

Of the amount of the project, $6,289,300 will be in the form of a grant, $1,572,400 will be in the form of a low-interest loan and $1,360,500 will be the city’s responsibility through a bond.

Kovarik said the city is developing ways to communicate with residents and the public concerning the project and affected areas so people know what is going on and when throughout town.