By Ashley Steward

Owatonna People’s Press

BLOOMING PRAIRIE — For the first time in nearly three months, Main Street in Blooming Prairie is open to vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

Steele County announced Friday afternoon on its Facebook page that the roadway, also known as County Road 42, would open after all permanent signs were installed and construction signs were removed that evening.

Elcor Construction of Rochester began the $2.7 million reconstruction of Main Street in Blooming Prairie last summer and it was scheduled to be completed by Oct. 31.

The project, a joint venture between the City of Blooming Prairie and Steele County, includes new utilities, new curb and gutter, new sidewalks and a new roadway.

Blooming Prairie’s portion of the project totals nearly $1.2 million projects, including utility improvements and a diagonal parking lane, while Steele County is picking up the remainder for the new roadway, new sidewalks and bump-outs on the nearly half mile of the roadway from County Road 15 to U.S. Highway 218.

In August, Blooming Prairie received additional support when the Steele County Board of Commissioners approved an amendment to its cooperative agreement reflecting $100,000 of Local Road Improvement Program grant funding going to the city to offset its $340,000 parking lanes on Main Street.

In addition to the grant dollars, the utility improvements are being paid through the city’s water and sanitary sewer funds, which aren’t part of the property tax levy, and the parking lanes will be bonded for, which will be paid through the tax levy and special assessments.