The work started two weeks ago on a stretch of road between Eighth and 12th streets. It has kept a section of Fifth Avenue South near the Kenyon Road Bridge closed.

S.M. Hentges & Sons Inc., of Jordan, Minnesota, has a $1,369,194.45 contract for the work that is currently underway.

“The contractor has 28 days to complete the work,” Schaeffer said. “We are halfway through the construction time period.”

Workers are installing concrete storm sewer pipes that are as much as 6 feet in diameter. The purpose is to take storm water from the east side of downtown to the Des Moines River.

The new storm sewer begins near the intersection of Fourth Avenue South and Ninth Street.

It then passes under the football field at the old Fair Oaks Middle School before going beneath Fifth Avenue South and down the hill toward the river.

Schaeffer said Thursday that pending weather, the contractor is planning to pour concrete on Monday to rebuild the street on Kenyon Road.

“Wednesday they will do sidewalks and then some other miscellaneous work but looks like we will be on schedule to open Kenyon Road in two weeks, Schaeffer said.

The work now underway is just the first phase of a bigger effort. Schaeffer said in 2023, a new, larger storm sewer will be installed from Fourth Avenue South and Ninth Street to First Avenue South and 12th Street.