Construction work has started about two weeks early at the Wecott Athletic Complex, and community members can expect to see a lot of dump trucks filled with dirt in the area.

“You’re going to see big piles of dirt out there from the excavation,” Austin Public Schools Finance and Operations Director Mark Stotts said.

Austin Public Schools is working with Vision 2020 to install artificial turf on two fields at the Wescott Athletic Complex and to install a seasonal dome over Art Hass Field.

The work was scheduled to start May 4, but due to good weather conditions, construction company G.L. Contracting out of Medina, Minnesota — who will do excavation work on the existing soils at the Wescott fields, along with appropriate drainage and sub-grade preparation for the turf and dome — was able to start the groundwork early.

“They’re definitely starting earlier than we anticipated because we’ve had such good weather,” Stotts said.

“We are going to be ahead of schedule here,” he added.

The early start allows extra time in case weather turns bad and delays work over the summer. G.L. Contracting Project Manager Tim Swanson said the main thing that effects their work is rain.

“Depending on how much rain and where we’re at, we could lose two or three days,” Swanson said.

“That [two weeks] is going to help a lot to meet the completion date,” Swanson added. “Hopefully the weather holds.”

The work is scheduled to finish in the first part of August, so the field is ready and available for soccer and football games this fall. Stotts hopes the weather will not cause any delays in work. The dome is set to be put up in November, although the infrastructure for the dome will be set up this summer.

“We just want to break ground and get the fields in so we’re ready for this fall,” Stotts said. “We’re anxious to get the fields in there.”

The work taking place during this first phase of the project includes excavating a couple of feet down in the field to put in non-frost susceptible soil, according to Swanson.

“Then we put in engineers soil, or sand,” Swanson said. “And then on top of that we put in drainage so that the water goes away real fast and doesn’t collect and doesn’t cause problems, especially in the winter with the frost and freeze cycle.”

G.L. Contracting works has not worked with the Austin district previously but have completed projects around the area, such as at Triton Schools in Dodge Center who gave a positive reference.

There will be several large machines, such as bulldozers, excavators and many dump trucks. People driving in the area should be aware of the truck traffic near the water-tower entrance on 14th Street Northwest.

The school board voted 5-1 to move forward on the $5.2 million project during its regular meeting on Feb. 10. The dome is part of a larger community recreation center project intended to meet community needs.

The domed field can be used for soccer, softball and baseball practices along with a few softball and soccer games. Austin Public Schools will contribute $2.5 million from school reserves, and the Hormel Foundation donated $2.7 million, which was approved at the foundation’s Jan. 27 meeting.

The dome will be open to the community, and to adult and recreational athletic leagues.

The district has discussed putting artificial turf on the fields for several years, since some sports now require artificial turf for games. The artificial turf on both fields will give Austin an opportunity to host section tournament events, as the Minnesota State High School League now requires all football section title games to be played on turf.

Jenae Hackensmith can be reached at jenae.hackensmith@austindailyherald.com

Eric Johnson can be reached at photodesk@austindailyherald.com