ABOVE: Work on the channel wall between Hall Lake and Budd Lake in Fairmont is ongoing but expected to be completed in February.

FAIRMONT– Those driving near the Channel inn in Fairmont have no doubt noticed the large crane in the parking lot as work on the channel wall between Hall Lake and Budd Lake began last month.

News of the need to repair the channel wall first came before the city council in June and while nearly $1.4 million was already planned and budgeted for Gomsrud Park improvements, the council approved using some of the money to first address the channel wall.

Originally expected to cost around $400,000, the low bid for the project came in at $787,050 from ICON Construction, LLC.

Once approved by council, the work was scheduled for this winter. Matthew York, the city’s Public Works Director, said, “we didn’t want to do it during the traffic season for the boats.”

He said they also wanted to get the channel wall repaired before phase one of the Gomsrud Park project can start. Phase one will include fixing the parking lot and boat ramp.

“The original intent was to utilize the east side of the bank to work from, but it will be easier for them to do from the west bank,” York explained.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Army Corp of Engineers (ACE) also had to sign off on the project.

As for why work on the channel wall is required, York said, “The Gabion baskets were deteriorating and could potentially fall into the channel and if that happened, the channel would become unnavigable.”

As it turned out, when work began on the channel wall, some of the Gabion baskets did start to fall.

“It was pretty close to failure,” York said.

While work began on the project in early December, the company shut down for two weeks for the holidays and earlier this month it did not work during a week of sub-zero temperatures.

“We’re about 50 percent completed. Without any more setbacks, the goal is to finish up in February,” York said.

However, some minor work, including restoration, will need to be finished in the spring but the main wall repairs will be completed in early February.

The look of the channel will change as the Gabion baskets are being replace with a corrugated metal wall with a walking cap on it.

“It will look very similar to the North end of the West side. It will look that way continually down the whole West side,” York said.

The width is not expected to change at all. However, that is the only channel in the chain of lakes that can fit two watercraft– one coming from each side.