MARSHALL — A major reconstruction project planned for Minnesota Highway 19 in Marshall is the reason behind a number of legal notices published in the Independent last week. The notices – all about the condemnation of land in the highway right-of-way – are part of the process of getting temporary easements for the road construction project, Minnesota Department of Transportation representatives said.

Having temporary easements on land along the highway will make it possible for MnDOT to do work like building sidewalks and driveway entrances, said Patrick Jaeger and Jesse Vlaminck of MnDOT.

Over the past few years, MnDOT has been planning to reconstruct part of Highway 19 (College Drive) within the city of Marshall. The full project area runs from about Marlene Street in Marshall to the intersection of East College Drive and North Bruce Street. Reconstruction is planned to take two years, with the first part of construction starting in 2025.

The first phase of the project will run from Marlene Street to the intersection of East College Drive and Main Street. A roundabout will also be built at the intersection of College Drive, South Second Street and Country Club Drive, near the National Guard Armory.

The full project impacts 100 parcels of land along College Drive, said Vlaminck, MnDOT project manager. Out of that total, 39 parcels of land are going through the condemnation process, he said.

Minnesota law allows the state and some governmental agencies to acquire property for public purposes, including for state highways. Under the state constitution, property owners must also be compensated for the property. The state can acquire land by direct purchase, or by condemnation.

In the condemnation process, a court hearing is held, and commissioners are appointed to determine the value of the property being acquired by the state, according to a MnDOT informational guide.

On Nov. 22, five pages of public notices connected with the Highway 19 construction project were published in the Independent. The notices included petitions to condemn parts of properties along Highway 19 for the purposes of getting a temporary easement. Remote hearings on the petitions will be held in Lyon County District Court on Feb. 5.