Road to Vernon Springs to be closed for month

CRESCO/VERNON SPRINGS - The Vernon Springs road is tentatively closing on Oct. 7 through mid-November for a concrete overlay. In addition, the City of Cresco is having some sewer and water main work done.

The sewer and water main work has begun and should be done in three weeks, weather-dependent, said Public Works Director Rod Freidhof.

He mentioned the work will be between 5th Ave. SW and past Accura HealthCare, but he did say the care center will always be accessable from the east.

On the other hand, once Bruening (a sub-contractor of prime contractor Croell Redi-Mix) starts on the pavement on Oct. 7, again weather-dependent, Vernon Road will be closed.

Howard County Engineer Nick Rissman explained there are two detour routes, depending on the ultimate destination.

• Golf Course Detour: Drivers will need to go west out of town, turning south on Unity Ave. The detour then travels west on 100th St., south on Spring Ave. and east on 115th to the country club.

• Nature Center/Campground Detour: Drivers will go south on the Protivin Road, then west on 125th St. and north on Valley Ave.

As always, construction work is dependent on the weather, and the next week shows a wet forecast.

Rissman added, “Once Bruening starts working on the road, it will be closed to everyone except those who live in the construction limits.”

The only parts of the project that will have pavement removed are at the beginning and end, in order to match it up with the current road. Geotextile fabric will be put over the existing pavement, and then there will be a seven-inch concrete overlay on top.

“For the safety of everyone involved, please do not attempt to access the construction area if you do not live within the construction limits. Marked detours will be in place for those who live on or need to access to 115th St or the Country Club as well as for those who live on or need access to Valley Ave., south of the construction limits or the Nature Center. Your cooperation and patience with this project will be greatly appreciated,” said Rissman