Marshall’s Hwy. 19 project will address infrastrucutre issues and do away with confusing West College Drive intersection
Trying to decide what to do at the three-way intersection of West College Drive, 2nd St. and Country Club Drive in Marshall — known locally as the “Chicken Foot” intersection — is like trying to pick out what to eat off a restaurant menu.
Do you have to slow down? Where do you stop if you’re turning right? And just who has the right of way?
Those problems will soon be a thing of the past.
A groundbreaking ceremony last Friday that included a speech from U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) highlighted the benefits of a two- phase, federally-supported, $25.7 million street and infrastructure reconstruction project on West College Drive in Marshall, which began Monday.
“This is a very memorable and special day,” Marshall Mayor Bob Byrnes said at last week’s ceremony. “It was about 80 years ago there was a day like this when they started the Highway 19 project — it was actually Highway 19 and Highway 23 at that time — coming through Marshall. Now it’s time to rebuild, reconstruct, redesign the road; this is really a generational project, and we’re thrilled to be a part of it.”
Phase one of the 1.5-mile project will begin at the intersection with Main St. and end with Lyon County's first round-about at that infamous intersection.
The project to redo the street and replace sanitary sewer and watermain utilities will take place in multiple phases along State Highway 19 (West College Drive), starting west of Marlene Street and stopping short of State Hwy. 68/Main St.
In 2026, work will take place in multiple phases along TH 19/East College Drive, starting at the intersection of 69/Main St. and will stop at the intersection with Bruce St. A portion of Bruce will also be included in the project.
Sidewalk improvements will be made along the project area in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and a bike lane will be striped from Marlene St. to just west of Fairgrounds Rd.
Traffic will be detoured to Lyon County Road 7 and State Highway 23.
The project will suspend in late October of this year and resume in the spring of 2026, with completion targeted for Oct. 30, 2026.
The project’s general contractor is R&G Construction of Marshall.
“Partnership is really kind of the theme of the day, because there have been a lot of people who have worked collaboratively to this point,” Bynes said.
Other speakers Friday echoed Byrnes’ “partnernship” theme when they addressed the crowd, which included Marshall city officials and numerous MnDOT representatives. One of those grabbing the mic was Smith.
“I know that this road goes right through the heart of Marshall, and it’s going to make it smoother and safer and work better for everyone in the community,” Smith said. “This road keeps this community connected, and I know this project is more than about just repairing and replacing some pavement — you’re going to be making improvements to water and sewer mains, improving intersections to make them safer and more convenient.”
U.S. DEMOCARATIC SEN. TINA SMITH ( far right) is joined at Friday's groundbreaking for the upcoming West College Drive road and infrastructure project by Marshall Mayor Bob Byrnes (to her right) and other local and state officials who have had a hand in the project. Photos / Per Peterson
U.S. SEN. TINA SMITH said the West College Drive project in Marshall is the result of a positive partnership between the City of Marshall, State of Min- nesota and the federal government. Pictured at right is Marshall Director of Public Works/City Engineer Jason Anderson, who also spoke at last week's groundbreaking event. Photos / Per Peterson
Smith added that the project is a tribute to the relentless advocacy of City of Marshall officials and MnDOT as well as local legislators.
“Senator (Amy) Klobuchar and I are so glad to be able to put our shoulders into bringing a little over $15 million back to the community of Marshall to help make this project a reality. That is exactly what we should be doing — bringing tax dollars back to Minnesota so that Minnesota works better for Minnesotans.”
The project will be supported by a $15.4 million RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) grant.
