April 18, 2008
Excelsior Crossing Update
Opus Corporation, the developer of the Excelsior Crossing project, told the City Council on Tuesday, that the project will be larger and built sooner that originally projected. The project, originally planned at 691,000 square feet will now total 799,000 square feet. Three seven-story buildings will be built for Cargill Corporation.
Employees will be moving into the first building this June. Work has already begun on the second building and the third building is scheduled to be completed by 2010. When the project is completed there will be room for approximately 3,000 employees.
Excelsior Crossings (PDF 2MB)
Potholes
Starting this week, City street maintenance employees are out filling potholes. It's been a tough winter and spring for asphalt road cracking and potholes - both are more prevalent than in the past several years.
What makes a pothole?
Potholes are created when moisture seeps into the pavement, freezes, expands and then thaws. This weakens the pavement. Traffic loosens it even more, and it eventually crumbles and pops out.
Why do so many potholes occur in the spring?
Spring temperatures warm the cold pavement, melting and evaporating any ice. This creates air pockets that can eventually cause the pavement to break up. A winter of heavy snow or rain and several freeze-thaw cycles can mean a big pothole season.
Are there different kinds of repairs?
During cold weather, temporary repairs are made with cold patch asphalt, because the weather is too chilly to use hot asphalt. Hot asphalt is used for permanent repairs during warmer weather.
This year there has been a shortage of cold-mix patch material in the Twin Cities area. Hot-mix asphalt is a much more effective patching material but plants don't typically open until mid to late April. As of Wednesday, April 16 there was one hot-mix asphalt plant in St. Paul producing material. The City has purchased asphalt and has started to repair potholes.
FREE Brush and Yard Waste Pick Up
Brush Pick Up
Brush is collected on Tuesdays. To schedule a pick-up, call before 2 pm on Monday. Brush is collected FREE from April 22–May 6. Stack brush in a neat pile on the boulevard NOT in the street (NO alley pick-up)—butt ends all one way, parallel to the street. Keep brush at least 5 feet away from overhead wires, fences, refuse containers, parked cars, etc.
Yard Waste Pick Up
Yard waste is collected the same day as regular refuse. Pick up is FREE April 21–May 8. Place bagged yard waste at the normal refuse collection site at least 4 feet away from your refuse and recycling containers. Yard waste is defined as leaves with twig stems no longer than 4 inches, grass clippings, and similar garden waste.
For more information, call 952-939-1382 or click here.
Upcoming Meetings and Events
- Tuesday, April 22 - City Council Worksession, 6:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, April 22 - Zoning & Planning Commission, 6:30 p.m.