Project contingent on county bonding
By Robert Cloud
The Waupaca County Highway Committee recommended 30 feet of pavement on County Trunk I between U.S. Highway 45 and Kluth Road.
However, the recommendation is contingent on the county board approving an adequate bonding package to construct the project in 2018.
At its Aug. 4 meeting, the committee reviewed issues raised by residents near County I who wanted a wider road, especially on the western portion of the highway.
“There are subdivisions and lots of development in that area, lots of farm equipment and quite a bit of pedestrian and bike traffic,” according to Lisa Coombs, an engineering specialist with the highway department.
She said the department plans to design the project in 2017, acquire the right-of-way in 2018, and begin construction either in 2018 or 2019.
“This is not a reclaim, shape and pave project,” Coombs said, noting the existing road bed is not wide enough for 30 feet of pavement,
County I is currently between 20 feet and 21.5 feet wide along a nearly three-mile stretch from U.S. 45 east to Kluth Road. It passes through the city of Clintonville and the towns of Larrabee and Matteson.
She said the goal is to provide two 12-foot lanes, two three-foot paved shoulders and two three-foot gravel shoulders along the stetch of County I between U.S. 45 and Kluth Road.
At intersections and in areas where the homes are closer to the road, the county will install curb and gutters, as well as storm sewers.
The county estimates the project’s total cost to be $1.6 million. Had the county simply reclaimed and paved over the existing roadway along this section, the project would have cost just under $1 million.
“This project will be built to last,” Coombs said.
The county also plans to begin work on the eastern part of County Trunk I in 2017.
The 3.7-mile section of County I between County Trunk Y and the Shawano County line will be reclaimed, shaped and repaved over the existing road bed. Most of that section will remain at its present width of 20 feet to 22.5 feet because it has less traffic.
Total cost for the eastern section of the County I project is estimated at about $600,000.