Marshall County advances road, bridge and ditch work; bike path bid awaits funding

County Engineer Lon Aune told the Marshall County Board of Commissioners on July 7 that two highway projects are complete and several others are moving through planning and bidding stages. Aune reported the Middle River box culvert and the Donnelly Township bridge are finished, and a paving contract is scheduled to start on July 15. He said gravel work on County State-Aid Highway (CSAH) 2 had not yet started but would begin soon, and that an intern position and its future status were under discussion.

Transportation Director Tim Finseth, joined by Transportation Assistant Taylor Vanbuskirk, provided an update on area projects and funding options for potential new work. A proposed bike path in Middle River is being put out for bid but remains dependent on securing outside funding, the board was told.

The board recessed the regular meeting and convened as the Ditch Authority. As the Ditch Authority, commissioners approved a cleaning request on County Ditch 30 Branch B in Section 34 of Adger Township for approximately three-quarters of a mile. The authority also noted a recent Nelson Slough project open house and discussed funding possibilities and next steps on County Ditch 45.

Why it matters: the completed culvert and bridge restore or maintain critical local connections, paving and gravel work affect summer travel and maintenance timelines, and ditch-maintenance actions can affect drainage and farmland adjacent to county infrastructure. The bike-path project, if funded, would add active-transportation infrastructure but has not yet secured financing.

What’s next: county staff will solicit contractor proposals for the bike-path bid and begin scheduled paving and gravel work. Ditch Authority follow-up on County Ditch 45 funding options was left as an ongoing item for staff and commissioners to address in future meetings.