A renovation project will bring occasional detours for drivers on the campus of Minnesota State University Moorhead.
The Moorhead City Council approved plans by Lee Jones & Son Construction Co. to close a block of Sixth Avenue South while crews work on renovating Hagen Hall.
Crews need to use the street to give construction equipment access to a staging area in a parking lot north of Sixth Avenue South.
The portion of the street affected is between 11th and 12th streets south.
Monday's unanimous vote allows the contractor for the next 18 months to close the road when it is necessary to have access to the parking lot.
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The $10.5 million project, which began this spring after the Minnesota Legislature approved its funding, will convert the building's outdated labs to classrooms and office space.
New heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical and sprinkler systems will also be installed.
Councilman Greg Lemke said he is concerned that area residents were not told the road may be closed at times through the end of 2006.
"If it was my neighborhood, I'd sure like to know it was happening," Lemke said.
Assistant City Manager Michael Redlinger said the city did not inform neighbors because it is not a permanent move.
Officials did consider the impact of the closure, he said.
"We don't take these requests lightly," Redlinger said.
In other business, the council approved on its consent agenda plans for a downtown Walgreens.
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Plans call for tearing down two stores along Main Avenue to make room for the national drug store chain: the Arvid Benson Home Furnishings store that closed last fall and Premiere Video.
Semper Development, the Minneapolis-based firm that plans to build the store, expects to open it in May or June next year.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Dave Roepke at (701) 241-5535
