Public Works Update

May 30, 2025

2025 Street & Utility Project

Linn Drive SW/Oakdale Street SW

The 2025 Street & Utility Project was awarded to Wencl Construction. Planned work is weather dependent and dates are subject to change. Any access restrictions will be communicated by the contractor.

Week of May 30 Recap: The contractor is continuing to work on running watermain on Linn Drive. They have connected new sanitary and water services to homes North of Oakdale, on Linn Dr, and have begun sub-cutting in the area to put down base materials for the roadway.

Upcoming Plans: The contractor will work on connecting the rest of the sanitary and water services on Linn Dr. They will then move onto storm improvements along Linn, followed by sub-cutting and base material placement. After Linn is filled with base materials, they will begin construction of underground utilities and roadway surface on Oakdale. The contractor plans to begin work on Oakdale the week of June 9th, weather permitting.

In the event of heavy rainfall residents are encouraged to park on the north end of 2nd off of Oakdale or on the south side of 18th Street SW. Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we understand the wet weather has caused a bit of inconvenience.

If you have not already signed up for and would like to receive these weekly updates, visit Notify Me.

2025 Street & Utility Project Map.

Vine Street Parking Lot

The paving contractor began removals, paving and permanently striping the lot on May 30. The lot is currently closed and will remain closed until June 3.

Notifications regarding the lot closure will be sent via Notify Me - Vine Street Parking Lot Closures. Motorists who frequent the lot are encouraged to sign up for these notifications. Paving and striping are weather dependent, and dates may shift due to the forecast and current conditions.

2025 18th Street SE Trail Extension

Ulland Brothers will begin construction on a Pedestrian and Bicycle Trail running along the South side of 18th Street SW and the North side of 18th Street SE on June 2nd. They will begin by installing a stormwater underground filtration system near the intersection of Austin Road and 18th Street SE and work their way to the west. 18th Street will remain open to vehicle traffic. Drivers should slow down and use additional caution when in the area.

18th Street SE Trail Extension Map

Overlay Prep Project

1.56 miles of roadway will be overlayed by the Owatonna Street Department in 2025. Steve James Excavating will begin replacing and adjusting manhole and catch basin castings/structures in preparation of the paving to take place this summer. They plan to begin prep work in the next few weeks, and it is expected to take approximately one week to complete. Please use caution when approaching the work area.

The work areas can be seen highlighted in red on this map.

View the interactive project map to see where work will be taking place this season: Engineering Project Map | Owatonna, MN.

Sanitary Sewer Jetting/Cleaning

Began this week in Zone 3 - Southeast side of town

Jetting consists of using a "Jetter Truck" that carries 1,200 gallons of water and 600 feet of hose to clean sewer mains. The hose is fed down through a manhole into the main sewer lines. Once the hose is in place, a pump is turned on to send water through the hose and out a specialized jetting nozzle that operates at roughly 1200-1800psi. The nozzle is fed upstream to the next manhole (typically 300-350 ft runs) and then pulled back slowly to loosen up and remove the debris that are built up in the pipe. This debris ranges from wipes, sand/grit, grease, and solids. Once the solids are pulled back to the manhole, they are either flushed downstream or vacuumed out into the debris box of the Jetter/vac truck.

The city cleans 20% of the city sewer mains annually by working through these5 zones. This approach allows staff to clean all main lines in a 5-year cycle.

City residents may experience gurgling noises and the occasional odor. Residents and business owners are advised to fill their drain traps after the jetting is completed in front of their house or business. The vacuum that is created during the cleaning process may pull water out of the traps leaving them dry, which can cause odors.

The 2025 Sanitary Sewer Cleaning is being completed in the Zone 3 (South East corner) as seen in the jetting/cleaning zone map.

Please call the Wastewater Treatment Facility at 507.444.2452 if you have questions or experience any issues.

Stormwater Management

Community Service Opportunity – Stormwater Pond Clean-up

Winter months leave behind large amounts of trash and unwanted debris in waterways and stormwater ponds. This contributes to unwanted water pollution and clogging the stormwater system. The City is seeking volunteers to help remove garbage from 29 publicly-owned ponds. This is a perfect way to get out of the house for fresh air and exercise, enjoy the beautiful spring weather and get involved in the community all while having a positive impact on your environment. The City can provide garbage bags and pond locations if necessary.

Safety Considerations

Do not go in or near the water edge or inlet/outlet structures
Always wear gloves
In some locations, it may be advisable to wear boots
Do not grab anything that may be sharp or hazardous
A trash picker or rake may be necessary to reach some objects

Construction season has arrived. slow down exercise caution and pay attention

Spring has arrived and there are many crews working on or near the roadway. Please SLOW DOWN, exercise caution and pay close attention when approaching any work crews, cones, barricades, etc. Thank you for your patience as the construction season gets underway. Motorist diligence is key in ensuring worker safety.