Motorists who routinely travel the western part of Second Street in Webster City may soon find an alternate route as the 2021 Second Street project gets under way Monday.

Signs announcing the project start and detour signs started popping up Thursday in preparation for the reconstruction work.

The project will involve Second Street just east of Beach Street, to Overpass Drive.

Rasch Construction Inc. of Fort Dodge was awarded the contract with a low base bid of $3,306,208. The company turned in alternate bids for additional work on Fair Avenue from Second to Third Street, Woolsey Avenue from Second Street north about 75 feet, Beach Street from Second Street north to 140 feet, Broadway Street from Second Street north to Third Street and from Third Street to the railroad tracks, for a total alternate bid of $1,008,909.50. That would bring Rasch’s total bid to $4,315,117.50.

Ken Wetzler, Webster City public works director, said much of the work being done in the project is similar to what was done last summer with Phase 1 of the Second Street project.

“There will be new water mains, new storm sewers, new gas main and new street lights,” he said.

There will be several detour options, according to Wetzler and signs will be placed around the area to direct motorists.

“The trucks will be routed so that they take James Street and come on around Prospect then meet up with the truck route through town,” he said.

The first phase of the project, which extended from Prospect St. to Beach St. was completed in November 2020.

Wetzler said the project is expected to be finished by the end of October, though good weather could mean an earlier completion just as inclement weather could cause some delays.