Recent rains puts Breckenridge flood protection efforts on hold

Breckenridge, Minn. (WDAY TV) - City leaders in Breckenridge are frustrated the recent rain is hampering flood protection. Work on dike building is nearly at a standstill because dirt and clay are just too wet.

Rain this spring and summer forced crews to stop building dikes. Now, weeks of rainy weather have caused some of the project to be delayed until spring. City leaders hoped to have the entire south side and three blocks of the north side completely done before winter.

However, about 20 percent of dirt still needs to be put on top of clay. Some seeding also needs to be done. The delay won't cost more because the deadline to finish is next spring.

This isn't the first delay. The 23 million dollar project was approved in 2001 but there was a delay in federal funding. That moved the cost up to 39 million dollars.

“They do have a couple areas of blacktopping we'd like them to get done this fall yet so if we get a break of a couple weeks, they might get that done. It's just one of those things, when Mother Nature strikes, there's nothing you can do about it. When you're dealing with clay and dirt, you're done, you stop.”

Two more parts of the project will be started next year. That's for the north side and near the otter tail river. Completion is expected to be 2012 at the latest.

On a good note, Mayor Barth says the dikes are built up high enough to protect people if it should flood next year.