Arnolds Park, IA (KICD) — Reconstruction on highway 71 through the lakes area is scheduled to resume today. Department of Transportation Engineer Dakin Schultz told us last week, that at THAT time the contractor was ready to move into place this morning.

Mid-summer it was announced that phase two would start in Arnolds Park and move North instead of starting in Okoboji and moving South, because less ground would have to be thawed during next spring’s roadwork.
Schultz says the DOT, contractor, and the cities of Arnolds Park and Okoboji are all working together to cause as little disruptions as possible.

Schultz says the one sticking point that couldn’t be resolved was keeping the bridge open to traffic during the entire construction process. At this point they’re hoping it’s closed for only four weeks.