State-mandated road bans went into effect at midnight Tuesday, March 9, 2010. This will postpone KGM Construction’s ability to finish the Highway 61 roadwork between Lutsen and Tofte.
Theroad ban is a little early this year because of all the sunshine and warm weather. Once the ban is in effect, it is on for eight weeks.
On March 9, the county board considered a temporary waiver of the ban along the Sawbill Trail and the 400 feet of Springdale Road that connect it to the unused Tofte airport so that KGM could transport rock from Highway 61 in order to finish its job. The rock, property of KGM, will be stored on the airport runway.
Project Superintendent Heath Line said KGM started hauling rock from the highway a week ago. Theyhad hoped to get two weeks of hauling in before the road ban went into effect.
Cook County Highway Department Maintenance Supervisor Russell Klegstad said he had seen the change in road conditions start the previous afternoon, with water seeping up to the surface of some area roads. Hauling the rock now would cause damage, although the Sawbill Trail might be able to handle the weight. If the county gave a waiver to KGM, however, the loggers would complain. They are already upset because the road ban came on so suddenly, he said.
“You can’t say yes to one and no to the local economy,” said Commissioner Jan Hall. “That’s not how we operate.”
“I honestly don’t think it was a bad call,” Klegstad said of the state’s decision.
Heath Line said he wouldn’t want to have to repair the Sawbill. Therepairs would cost more than the rock is worth to them, he said.
Commissioner Fritz Sobanja wondered if KGM would get penalized if their project takes longer than expected. Line was not aware of any potential fines but said the delay would be a safety issue for travelers. He expects the project to take until early July instead of early June.
The board unanimously passed a motion to deny a waiver of the road ban.
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