Busy Road Construction Season Ahead for the City In 2026

It will be another busy road construction season in Sauk Rapids. Temporary traffic impacts and general inconvenience will be felt more widespread than in past years with planned lane closures on Benton Drive near 2^nd Avenue South, railroad crossing closures at 2^nd Avenue South and 9^th Street South, and signed detour routes in these areas.

In 2026 there will be two projects wrapping up and three starting new:

·     The 2025 Highview Area Street & Utility Improvements is planned to be completed in June with final lift bituminous paving on North Highview Drive between East Highview Drive and Oak Drive where water main was installed in 2025, and general punch list work.

·         The 2025 Lead Water Service Line Replacement project is planned to continue into mid-summer with completion of an additional approximately 20 each service replacements being performed within various locations in the older core part of the City. Like past years, it will be a moving operation that will look and function more like a City maintenance project. Construction is anticipated to be completed this summer.

·         The largest new project for 2026 is the Second Avenue South Improvements project consisting of street, sidewalk, storm sewer, sanitary sewer, water main, and lighting improvements on 2^nd Avenue South from 10^th Street South to Searle St NE, and work on portions of the adjacent side streets of 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th, 13^th, and 14^th Street South. Work on 9^th Street South will include construction of a new sidewalk crossing of the railroad tracks in partnership with BNSF Railway extending the crossing panels to the north. A mini roundabout is planned for the 2^nd Avenue South/ 14^th Street South intersection. Significant private (gas and electric) utility relocation and upgrade work began last fall. The City’s (street and utility reconstruction) portion of the project is anticipated to begin in June. The project will include a detour route for 2^nd Avenue South through traffic. Construction is anticipated to be substantially completed this fall with final lift paving in 2027.  

·         Another new project for 2026 is the Second Avenue South Pedestrian Railroad Crossing Improvements project consisting of street, sidewalk, water main, and traffic signal improvements on 2^nd Avenue South from 6^th Street South to Benton Drive South. A new water main is planned to be tunneled under the railroad tracks which will necessitate temporarily reducing the number of traffic lanes on Benton Drive for several weeks. The project also partners with BNSF Railway to replace and extend the railroad crossing surface and create a new sidewalk crossing of the tracks that is separated from the roadway. The Benton Drive crosswalk will be relocated to the east side of 2^nd Avenue South which will include modifications to medians, curb ramps, and the traffic signal. The City’s portion of the project is anticipated to begin in July with BNSF crews working intermittently in July and August. The project will include a detour route for 2^nd Avenue South through traffic. Construction is anticipated to be substantially completed this fall.  

·         A final construction project occurring this summer that will indirectly involve road work in the form of isolated street patching is the 2026 Lead Water Service Line Replacement project that focuses on replacing approximately 43 each old water services from the main line pipe in the street to the meter in people’s basements. The project area is spread out primarily along 2^nd and 3^rd Avenue South between 9^th Street South and the south City Limits, and will be a moving operation. It will look and function more like a City maintenance project. Construction is anticipated to begin this spring and be completed this fall.

As always, we request your patience this construction season. All residents are asked to pay careful attention to construction warning signs and drive cautiously in the vicinity of the project areas. 

Residents and property owners adjacent to the proposed street improvements will be receiving periodic Project Updates in the mail that will provide updated schedule and progress information, as well as contact information for project personnel.