FAIRMONT– The Martin County Board of Commissioners heard from a representative of MnDOT who gave a presentation on the Capital Highway Investment Plan (CHIP) during its meeting on Tuesday.

Sam Parker, District Engineer for District 7, said that CHIP is a 10-year look out to see what’s coming in terms of projects.

“Every five years we also take a big look going out 20 years. That’s the Minnesota State Highway Investment Plan. We’re in the process of doing that right now. That’s where you look at the condition of the system across the state,” Parker said.

Angie Piltaver, a planner for MnDOT, shared some specifics in regards to Martin County. She first talked about the I-90 project from Sherburn to Fairmont.

“That particular project, we’re resurfacing the traffic lanes, the shoulder and the ramps, improving the drainage, updating the guard rails and updating the lighting at the highway 4 and highway 15 interchanges,” Piltaver said.

She said that contract was bid out at a little more than $5.6 million and that it started in May and is expected to be complete in October.

The other project that’s underway is on highway 263 from Ceylon to I-90 and carries a $12.3 million price tag. It is also expected to be complete in October.

“We’re investing quite a bit of money in this. We’re improving the pavement, updating the shoulders, doing drainage improvements… the city at the same time is updating their utilities on 263,” Piltaver.

Commissioner Kathy Smith asked about a nearby project, the St. James 60 corner-15 corner. She said it affects a lot of people here.

Parker said it’s a two year project and portions of it will open as they’re complete.

The commissioners also asked about the highway 4 project which was scheduled to be complete in 2022. It’s now slated to be done in 2024. Parker said he would look into it.

In other news, the board:

— Accepted the resignation of the assistant library director and authorized recruitment to fill the vacancy.

— Approved the hire of Gabriella Coxworth for the position of Youth Intervention Prevention Coordinator.

— Scheduled a joint meeting with Martin County Soil and Water Conservation District for Sept. 20.