County working on County Road 48 project

The Crow Wing County Board agreed to move forward and obtain right-of-way acquisition for County Road 48 and Highway 210 Tuesday.

Its goal is to help control traffic congestion, add another intersection on Highway 210 and to help further the Paul Bunyan Trail, which would continue under the overpass on Washington Street west of Pizza Hut.

The county is working with the Minnesota Department of Transportation on this project as part of a West Washington Street improvement project. Highway 210 will meet with County Road 48 as follows: From the signal intersection of 210 and Baxter Drive, near the Westgate Mall, then straight south and connect to 48 near the curve on Florence Street, north of the industrial park. The trail extension will run parallel to the roadway and then continue to College Drive.

Duane Blanck, county highway engineer said the project should be completed by 2003.

The board approved Bauerly Brothers in Sauk Rapids to work on County Road 105 at an estimated cost of $223,000. Central Specialties, a contractor in Alexandria, will work on County State Aid Highway 8 for an estimated $715,000.

Duane Blanck, county highway engineer, told the board that he has received three more right-of-way acquisitions for CSAH 11.

Commissioners approved a cooperative agreement regarding intersection improvements for Highway 371 and CSAH 16, located by the A-Pine Express/Food-N-Fuel, south of Pequot Lakes. Blanck said improvements are needed because of the number of traffic accidents at the intersection. About $23,000 will come from the state for funding and the county will contribute $15,000.