WILLMAR - Duininck Inc. is proposing a street project in the company-owned Water View Business Park in southeast Willmar that a spokesman says would increase neighborhood safety and provide good business access.
The proposal would extend 24th Avenue Southeast in the business park from Ninth Street Southeast, northeasterly along the Highway 23/71 bypass, to Lakeland Drive.
As part of the concept, Duininck would reroute a portion of 19th Avenue Southeast, which currently runs through a residential area, to the south of the residential area and connect with 24th Avenue Southeast.
The portion that runs through the residential area would become a neighborhood street.
The concept was presented this week to the Willmar City Council’s Public Works/Safety Committee by Jason Ver Steeg, director of engineering for Duininck Inc. of Prinsburg.
Public Works Director Sean Christensen said Duininck approached the city about the concept. Christensen recommended the committee receive the concept as information.
Ver Steeg said the proposal is only a concept and nothing is finalized. He said details have yet to be worked out. If the concept receives council support, Ver Steeg said Duininck would work with city staff to do what is best for the city.
Among the benefits cited by Ver Steeg, the concept removes pressure from heavy traffic through the Dana Heights area and it would increase safety through the corridor, especially through the residential area.
The concept would continue good access to 19th Avenue businesses, provide good access into the heart of the business park, promote continued growth and increase the tax base from new development.
Ver Steeg said a date for construction has not been determined.
Committee Chairman Ron Christianson said the concept is very preliminary. He said it would help traffic and make the neighborhood safer.
Committee members Jim Dokken and Bruce DeBlieck suggested the concept be discussed with businesses and residents in the area.
In other business, the committee:
- Awarded a contract to Duininck Inc. in the amount of $2,421,172 for construction of the MinnWest lift station and Lakeland Drive sanitary sewer project. Christensen said bids were opened March 3 and Duininck was the low bidder. The project will be financed by State Public Facilities Authority funds, with minor amounts of state aid and local option sales tax funds.
- Awarded the low bid of $33,500 from Glieden Enterprises, LLC, of Belgrade, for crack-sealing 2.49 miles of streets this year. Since the bid was under the $70,000 budget, committee members asked Christensen if more crack-sealing could be done this year.
- Approved permits for four private archery ranges in residential areas under new safety standards approved April 21 by the City Council.
- Approved plans and specifications and called for bids to be opened June 3 for street lighting along Willmar Avenue Southwest from 22nd Street Southwest to County Road 5.
Submitted
This aerial view depicts the concept (in yellow) proposed by Duininck Inc. of Prinsburg to construct an extension of 24th Avenue Southeast in the company’s Water View Business Park from Ninth Street Southeast northeasterly to Lakeland Drive. The concept includes rerouting a portion of 19th Avenue Southeast and diverting traffic south of a residential neighborhood.
