South 75 construction wraps up; city writes final check

Luverne City Council members approved a payment of $443,018.94 to Duininck, Inc. for the latest round of improvements on South Highway 75.
Work done this payment period includes:
•removing old paint markings and applying new paint for the three-lane markings,
•sodding,
•mobilization,
•removing old pavement and curbs and installing new curbs and driveways,
•installing bridge railings, and
•revising the signal system at the Main Street intersection.
The $2.7 million project is 99.9 percent complete, and the city is withholding a 5 percent retainage while a list of minor items remain to be done.
In his report to the council Tuesday night, City Administrator John Call reviewed the South Highway 75 improvements, which began in 2012 with major underground infrastructure improvements in water and sewer lines.
With these underground improvements in place, Call said the “gateway” entrance to the community was “greatly improved” by the following:
•new streetlights and banners,
•new sidewalks, curbs and grass berms for pedestrian safety and aesthetics for the community,
•new bridge at Poplar Creek,
•flag park at Main Street,
•mill-off and overlay of the South Highway 75 surface,
•new revised traffic lights on Main Street, and
•new three lane traffic flow for the entire two-mile stretch of Highway 75.
“It was a long summer of orange cones and confusing detours around busy construction workers,” Call said.
“But the project is now complete and the city and community can now be proud of the new improvements and ‘gateway’ into our community.”
Mayor Pat Baustian applauded Call and project superintendent Verlyn Van Batavia, along with the contractors and engineers who worked on the South Highway 75 improvements.
Councilwoman Caroline Thorson agreed. “It does look great,” she said at the meeting. “It really looks nice coming in on the south end of town.”