Street work continues in downtown
By Robert Cloud
City Administrator Chad Hoerth reminds residents and visitors that downtown New London businesses remain open this summer.
“We encourage everyone to continue to visit our businesses during the construction as they depend on the community for support,” Hoerth said in an email to the New London Press Star.
He noted that most sidewalks will continue to be accessible during this year’s construction, although some sections will be closed temporarily for lateral replacements.
A two-year downtown reconstruction project began this summer.
In 2023, New London is rebuilding State Street, Lincoln Court and St. John’s Place and replacing some utilities on those streets as well as Pearl Street, from North Water to Waupaca streets.
The city is replacing water mains, sanitary sewers and old laterals to the buildings on North Water Street from Shawano to Pearl streets.
“At the end of this year’s construction season, we will be placing a thin patch of asphalt over the utility trenches on North Water Street and Pearl Street to get us through the winter,” Hoerth said.
2024 plans
In 2024, the city will replace storm sewer, curb and gutter, sidewalks, street lighting and the roadway on North Water and Pearl streets.
“The 2024 construction project is tied into a $2.9 million STP-Urban grant the city received to assist with the reconstruction of North Water Street,” Hoerth said.
The design for North Water Street includes slightly narrowing the road and parking lane area to provide about 1 1/2 feet more sidewalk on each side of the street.
“This is to give the city and businesses additional options and promote more downtown pedestrian amenities like planters and sidewalk dining,” Hoerth said.
In response to input from the public and businesses owners, the city is providing more downtown parking.
“The city purchased a vacant lot on North Water Street and a section of parking lot from First State Bank and will incorporate that into a design for a new centralized parking lot in the downtown,” Hoerth said. “This parking lot will be developed in the fall of 2023 so that it is available for nearby parking when North Water Street is closed for the 2024 downtown revitalization construction.”
Hoerth noted that because construction progress is fluid on a daily basis, regular updates will be posted on the city’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cityofnl
He said Living Waters Assembly of God at 401 W. North Water St., and Grand Cinema Theater at 319 W. North Water St. have opened their private parking lots for public parking during the construction. Signs at the driveway entrances indicate limitations.