Construction to replace one of county’s busiest roads is now expected to begin next month.

While construction to replace Fourth Street Northwest from Interstate 90 through Mapleview to Highway 218 was originally set to begin in mid-June, the project is now expected to start in mid-July.

The project was pushed back at the request of some local business owners and so the county could secure a federal grant. County Engineer Mike Hanson was able to secure about $600,000 in federal funds for the project — money he said is very difficult to come by.

“By us waiting, we picked up additional funds, and it was a nice surprise,” County Engineer Mike Hanson said. “You don’t just ask and get more.”

The highway department will be accepting bids on June 28, and a contractor could be selected by the county board meeting on July 6, Hanson said. Construction will begin soon after.

While access will be available during the project to businesses and homes affected by the construction, the public is asked to use alternate routes whenever possible to reduce congestion during construction. A temporary one-way access from 4th Street to the frontage road near the Holiday Inn will provide increased access to nearby businesses.

The new road will be an urban section with curb and gutter from I-90 to Murphy Creek, followed by a typical rural road the rest of the way to Highway 218.

From I-90 to 18th Avenue, the road will be widened by one lane. A third northbound lane will be added as a dedicated turn lane at 17th Avenue Northwest by Worlein Funeral Home. Then there will be a dedicated turn lane at 18th Avenue with one lane continuing north toward Highway 218.

There will be two southbound lanes with turn options at 17th Avenue and at the ramps to Interstate 90.

Highway 45 will also be widened by one lane from 18th Avenue to Murphy Creek with one northbound lane and one southbound lane divided by a continuous two-way center turn lane. The turn lane will be available for people to turn into businesses as well as driveways. The north and southbound lanes will each be 11 feet wide with a 6-foot area between the lane and the curb.

Bridge to be replaced north of Lansing

North of Lansing, a section of 540th Avenue is scheduled to close by late July for crews to replace a bridge due to rotting wood pilings. The project to replace the 50-year-old bridge about three miles north of Lansing is expected to be completed by early October.