Construction on Fourth Street Northwest from Interstate 90 to Highway 218 could begin next week.

The county board awarded a bid of $2.63 million to Rochester Sand & Gravel Inc. for the project. The bid had been awaiting approval by the office of Civil Rights.

“We are hoping that the project starts next week,” County Engineer Mike Hanson said.

However, Hanson said, things like weather will play a role in when the project starts.

The department of civil rights approved the project bids.

Hanson said he still expects the project to be completed this year, except for some finishing touches in the spring.

The first part of Fourth Street Northwest could be closed to traffic starting next week.

The project to completely resurface and widen Fourth Street Northwest — one of the county’s busiest roads — was originally slated to start in mid-July. However, the project was pushed back at the request of business owners, and as the county secured grant funding for the project.

While the street will be closed in sections during construction, an access road will be installed to keep open access to businesses like the Holiday Inn.