The ongoing expansion of the Nestle Purina PetCare plant in Fort Dodge will cause some road construction this summer on Fifth Avenue South in front of the facility.

That construction will yield a turning lane that will enable westbound traffic to turn right into the plant at 2400 Fifth Ave. S.

On Monday, the City Council hired Absolute Concrete Inc., of Granger, to do the work at a cost of $372,662.

City Engineer Austin Morrow said the intention is to build the lane this summer. A more specific schedule will be developed during an upcoming pre-construction meeting with the contractor, he said.

The city has received a $344,450 state grant to help pay for the project. The Webster County Board of Supervisors has committed to providing the remaining money.

Nestle Purina PetCare is investing $175 million to add a new product line to the plant, which makes canned cat food. That investment includes an 80,000-square-foot building expansion.

The project will create 50 net new jobs with starting wages ranging from $27 to $30 per hour.

The expansion project is expected to generate more traffic into the plant, making the turning lane necessary. The turning lane is expected to reduce the risk of vehicles being struck from behind as they slow down to turn into the plant.

Councilman Quennel McCaleb was absent from the otherwise unanimous vote to award the contract.

Other bidders for the job were TK Concrete, Pella, $275,999; Castor Construction, Fort Dodge, $376,968.30; Doyle Construction, Fort Dodge, $427,586.20; and Jensen Builders Ltd., Fort Dodge, $432,593.