South Baker St. Reconstruction Put on Hold

South Baker St. looking south towards Winona Senior High. Photo: TJ Leverentz/KWNO

WINONA, Minn.  (KWNO)-A plan to reconstruct South Baker St. from 5th St. to Gilmore Ave. has been pushed back to next year.  

The Winona City Council voted to reject all bids Monday night. City leaders learned earlier this month that construction materials needed for the project will not be available until August or September.  

“At that point, they wouldn’t get Gilmore done before school. They wouldn’t probably even finish the project this year. So, we just felt it was best to reject. We’ll rebid in December or January. If materials are still an issue then they should be able to get materials to start in April or May,” Director of Public Works Brian DeFrang told councilmembers.  

The project calls for the temporary closure of the intersection of  South Baker St. and Gilmore Ave., at the front entrance of Winona Senior High School. City leaders say they don’t want the intersection closure to happen during the school year.