Bridge replacement to start July 6

By Bert Lehman

By mid-June, Clintonville residents will have to start finding an alternative route through downtown due to the Main Street construction.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation held an information meeting Thursday, May 20 to update city residents of the plan and schedule for the construction project.

Dave Julson, project leader in the field, told those in attendance that work will begin June 1, when crews begin making detour improvements. During that time motorists can expect to encounter flagging operations and single lane closures along the detour route.

Once Main Street is closed between 10th Street and 13th Street, traffic will be detoured via 7th Street, 12th, Street, SSGT Warren Hansen Drive, and WIS 156.

Don Erickson, superintendent of Peters Concrete, said after improvements have been made to the detour route, which he said will take about two weeks, the construction on Main Street will begin. Use of the detour will begin June 16.

“We’ll start by removing the surface north of the bridge,” Erickson said. “Over to the crosswalk at 12th Street, the south side of 12th Street.”

Once that is completed, installation of the utilities will begin, as well as storm water, water, and sanitary sewer items. After that is completed, work will begin on the other side of the intersection of 12th Street.

A temporary walkway will be installed from the west side of Main Street to the east side, Erickson said.

Sidewalks will be cut. A four-foot sidewalk will be left near the buildings so businesses can still be accessed.

Erickson said driveways that are pulled out will be made accessible so residents can get in and out of their driveways.

Curb and gutters will be installed in mid to the end of July. That will be followed by concrete pavement being installed. After the concrete pavement cures, work will begin on replacing sidewalks.

During the entire project, Erickson said businesses will be updated on the schedule of the project.

Erickson added that work to replace the Pigeon River Bridge will begin July 6.

“The bridge will be closed down through the end of September,” Erickson said.

Julson said the project is scheduled to be completed in October.

Julson asked citizens to be aware of the construction area.

“Peters is going to do everything they can to make sure it is safe for everybody, however there are some inherit risks of being in a construction zone, so please keep that in mind,” Julson said.

Construction work will take place between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Bridge work will also take place on Saturdays.

Residents can receive updates on the project and traffic impacts by following the Wisconsin DOT on Twitter at: @511WI_NoCentral.

Residents can also subscribe to the WIS 22 email distribution list to receive updates each week on the progress of the construction. To sign up or learn more about the project, visit the WIS 22 project web site at http://projects.511wi.gov/wis22/.

Those who own businesses within a half-mile of the construction zone have the opportunity to have the Wisconsin DOT promote their business by uploading their information to the business listing web site at www.dot.wisconsin.gov/projects/ncregion/22/index.htm.