Progress on a $13.3 million State Highway 7 reconstruction project is mostly on schedule, according to Kelly Brunkhorst, project engineer for the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

The highway between Silver Lake and St. Bonifacius was closed in April, and is scheduled to reopen completely in November. It’ll feature a smooth new surface, added turn lanes and passing lanes and two roundabouts near Mayer.

Crews finished the clay grade between County Road 15 and Eagle Avenue, Brunkhorst reported, and will continue preparing the grade for gravel. Roadbed material for the passing lane between Carver County Road 21 and Tacoma Avenue is being excavated. Workers should be done installing centerline pipes this week. Edge drains will soon be placed at the roundabout on Highway 7 and 25, near Mayer. Electrical conduits and gravel were expected to be placed there by the end of last week, with curb and gutter work beginning Aug. 13.

For more project information, visit MnDOT’s Web site at www.dot.state.mn.us/d8/projects/hwy7silverlake [1].

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com [3])