Kountz Road closure nears

Kountz Road, in the vicinity of Big Pipestone Creek, will be closed for ten days beginning Saturday, November 26 at 8 a.m.

Northwestern Energy will be installing a barricade across the road immediately south of Sugar Beet Row, and approximately 200 feet south of the existing Big Pipestone Culverts.

According to Don Jeffrey of Northwestern Energy, the road will remain off-limits to all except for local residential traffic and Town of Whitehall traffic throughout the duration of the closure.

Areas located south of Big Pipestone Creek will be accessible during the closure via Tebay Lane and Forcella Road.

Jeffrey said the temporary road closure will allow for the safe and timely completion of pressurized gas main relocation work to be completed in supplement of the upcoming Kountz Road Bridge Replacement Project.

Next spring, Jefferson County intends to replace the existing undersized culvert crossing with a new 50-foot span precast concrete structure. He said the new structure will create additional hydraulic capacity and provide for a safer, two-lane cross meeting current County Bridge Design Standards.