Project superintendent names Feb. 24 for completion
There has been a lot of activity at the site of the new Hy-Vee store on N. Wilson this week, but according to project superintendent Dave O’Neal, the work next week will be something people in Jefferson haven’t seen before.
This week a crew from Jensen Builders of Fort Dodge has been working on the footings. O’Neal explained that whenever possible, Hy-Vee Construction uses local subcontractors and purchases locally. Murphy Excavating of Jefferson is doing the site work, and Hy-Vee is purchasing concrete from Hamilton Redi-Mix and renting equipment from Rueter’s Red Power.
The footings on the north (back side) of the building were poured Tuesday. O’Neal said much of the work will progress from north to south.
The underground utility work will also be done this week. Large culverts are on site awaiting installation. The city of Jefferson upgraded the water lines servicing the site, and Hy-Vee is installing new storm sewers to comply with federal regulations.
Next week, FabCon® precast insulated walls will be brought in and erected. Panels will be 8 feet wide, 12 inches thick, and 18 feet tall. O’Neal’s schedule calls for that work to start next Monday, Sept. 22. “It’s going to go fast. People will be surprised,” he said.
He expects people will watch, but safety comes first. A block of N. Wilson was closed Tuesday because of the number of people checking out the work on slow drive-bys. There will be other closures if needed.
The following week, the week of Sept. 29, the steel work will be started. O’Neal said it would be done inside the walls, so not as visible to those passing by. The roof will come next, and if all goes according to O’Neal’s schedule, the building will be “dry” by the second week of October. At that point, rain won’t slow the project.
O’Neal said the project is 10 days behind because of the rain the last few weeks. He named Feb. 24 as the opening date for the store. Although he went on record with a date, the question of a medical clinic being built at the site went unanswered.
O’Neal isn’t concerned about finishing the parking lot before the ground freezes. He said if the concrete work isn’t finished before then, they’ll thaw the ground as needed.
He pointed out the two large evergreen trees on the north side of the ISU Extension office, saying they would remain. People were hopeful the large trees on the southwest corner of the property would be left as well, but they were taken out last week. “I didn’t like to see them go, either,” O’Neal said. “I talked to everyone I could, trying to keep those trees, but I didn’t win.”
Hy-Vee Construction is owned by the grocery chain and builds only Hy-Vee grocery stores and gas stations. O’Neal has worked for the company for 42 years. He can’t say how many grocery stores he’s built over the years, but he knows he’s built 35 gas stations. The Jefferson project will not add a gas station to the count.
He’s excited and proud of the Jefferson Hy-Vee store. “This will spur growth in your community,” he said. “Hy-Vee wouldn’t be putting it here if they didn’t see growth coming.”
