Arnolds Park, IA (KICD) — Motorists driving through the heart of the Iowa Great Lakes encountered their first construction-related delays Wednesday. Concrete removal began in the very first steps of highway reconstruction that will span from Arnolds Park Amusement Park North to the County Home Road in Okoboji.

Chief DOT Engineer Dakem Schultz hosted a meeting to set expectations for the public last week.

Schultz says the contractor was instructed to maintain access to highway 71 businesses at all-time – not necessarily from the highway – and to make sure emergency vehicles can cross the bridge. The second caveat will mean the North and Southbound lanes will be constructed at different times.

The official detour for the project using Highways 9 and 86 will be put in place starting Monday, weather permitting.