Tracy Hodel

The University Bridge railing project continues in St. Cloud. St. Cloud Public Services Director Tracy Hodel joined me on WJON to address projects in the works and what's to come. Hodel says the installation of the bridge railings on the south side is happening this week.

The Veterans Bridge railings have been completed after a bit of a delay. That according to St. Cloud Public Services Director Tracy Hodel. She says the completion of the railings on Veterans Bridge were delayed by a couple of months because the work took longer than expected due to the epoxy coating and refurbishing.

The city of St. Cloud has just started some construction on the installation of larger water transmission mains coming into and out of the Calvary Hill Booster Station, along with increasing the size of the pumps that assist with getting water into the second pressure zone located on the southwest side of St. Cloud where water demand continues to increase significantly.

The University Drive South project is nearing completion according to St. Cloud Public Services Director Tracy Hodel. She joined me on WJON for an update on road and water related projects in the city. Hodel says by end of this week University Drive will be fully open from 9th Ave S to Roosevelt Road with pavement markings to be completed today.

COVID cases are on the rise in the St. Cloud area. St. Cloud Public Services Director Tracy Hodel says they are seeing a spike in cases starting in early July but the uptick in cases have since plateaued.

The University Bridge crossing the Mississippi in St. Cloud was expected to reopen at the end of July but due to some unexpected challenges on the east side reconstruct it likely will not.

The east side of St. Cloud has been the center of this summer's road construction projects. St. Cloud Public Services Director Tracy Hodel joined me on WJON for an update on the progress of these projects and more.

The lack of snow and rain this winter has put Central Minnesota in an unusual situation in March. St. Cloud Public Services Director Tracy Hodel joined me on WJON. She explains typically March-May is when they see the highest flow/production from the Mississippi River but right now they are at 20% below average for this time of year.

The majority of hydrants in St. Cloud are red fire hydrants. Recently St. Cloud has added some blue hydrants along Cooper Avenue and there are also yellow fire hydrants in some locations in the city.

Last winter was a record setting winter for snow and a difficult spring for hot holes in the City of St. Cloud. St. Cloud Public Services Director Tracy Hodel indicated last winter they had a lot of overtime costs and pretreatment chemical costs.

The recently completed Cooper Avenue South project from Roosevelt Road to Traverse Road included a roadway reconstruct, curb, gutter and sidewalk. It also includes freshly painted blue fire hydrants.

St. Cloud has many road projects in progress. St. Cloud Public Services Director Tracy Hodel joined me on WJON for an update. She indicates the Cooper Avenue South project to Traverse road is on schedule and should open in October.