Arnolds Park, IA (KICD) — It hardly seems like construction weather, but since the Department of Transportation wants Highway 71 through the Iowa Great Lakes Area open all summer, engineer Daken Schultz says pavement removal could begin next week.

Schultz says planners have been trying to coordinate the least inconvenient plan with stakeholders since 2017.

The Iowa DOT held a kickoff meeting Tuesday night in Arnolds Park and told business owners the contractor has been instructed to make sure the public has access to every business throughout the entire project.

Construction will halt between Memorial Day and Labor Day over the next two years to avoid disruptions during the all-important tourist season.

The DOT website has a page dedicated to the project and you can even opt to get road-closure updates emailed or texted directly to you.