The construction season is well under way with various projects throughout Williston. Combine the existing work with that which is still to come, including projects with federal stimulus dollars, the large amount of roadwork could be frustrating for citizens and commuters.

City of Williston assistant engineer Robert Hanson said this summer there is about as many projects as he’s ever seen in a single year. Despite the increase in projects without an increase in staffing, they’ve been able to keep things running as smoothly as could be hoped.

“It overall is going fairly good. So far we haven’t bumped into too much,” said Hanson.

Hanson said one of the biggest projects is the West Broadway Street project between Fourth Avenue West and Eighth Avenue West, where crews are making sewer and water improvements.

“They’re closing in on Sixth Avenue West with the sewer line and about one-fourth of the way done with water; to about Fifth Avenue West,” said Hanson. The water and sewer is being done block by block. Once the crews are half done, the paving, curb and gutters is to be placed on the first half of the site. Then the other half of the project is to be completed.

Hanson said this is the only project that’s behind schedule.

“They’re just a little behind on West Broadway. I don’t know the reason, but it’s about a week behind,” said Hanson.

Hanson said the scheduling for the West Broadway Street project was tough and once a project gets behind it’s usually very difficult to catch up. He said an extra crew of workers is to come and try to help in getting caught up.

Hanson said the project is time critical because it needs to get completed by the time school starts.

Hanson said there are several other projects that are moving along fairly smoothly. He said about a quarter of the paving is done along the Pheasant Run area, some utility work and reconstruction on 29th Street is nearly done and some paving on 25th Street West should hopefully begin this week.

Some other projects are in various stages of progress, including some work on 19th Avenue West, 16th Street and some parking lot work near Halliburton.

Overall, he sees things progressing fairly well. He’s optimistic it will stay that way unless something like bad weather puts a crew far behind schedule.

“I don’t foresee there being any kind of time problems,” he said.