Phase 2 of a two-part highway construction project began Monday in the Oconto Falls downtown business district.
The $3.95 million state Department of Transportation project includes pavement removal and replacement, curb and gutter, sidewalks, storm sewer, street lighting, pavement marking and street signing.
Due to construction, South Main Street to Cherry Street will be closed to through traffic this week for storm sewer installation. The state Highway 22 intersections at Caldwell and Central avenues will be open but with staggered barricades and signs stating the road is closed to through traffic.
Crews on Monday started removing light pole bases and refilling the holes left behind. They were scheduled to begin saw-cutting driveways, pavement and sidewalks later in the week.
The Main Street project is part of the 1.6-mile stretch of road from West Highland Drive to East Highland Drive under construction until early November. Highway 22 traffic will be detoured throughout the entire project, although Phase 1, on Chestnut Avenue, is nearly complete. Staggered barricades will remain in place on Chestnut Avenue until the entire project is completed in November, allowing local traffic through only.
The Main Street construction project comes at the busiest time of year for Mark Micoley, owner of Rocky Ridge Shooter’s Supply, 136 N. Main St.
“They couldn’t have picked a worse time to start on this part of it,” he said.
He said he lost thousands in sales last year when utility work gutted the street and sidewalk at his doorstep just before the start of deer hunting season. To help customers find his store this year, he has placed directional signs and purchased newspaper and radio advertising.
“If I can make it through these two years, I can make it through anything,” he said.
“It’s going to be tough. We understand that, but it takes time to get in there,” said Matthew Ternes, state Department of Transportation project manager, speaking at an informational meeting Friday. “Really what we’re trying to do is provide some access at all times to the businesses, but it’s not going to be parking on the street.”
“The less time anybody spends driving on that street the better,” said Duke Peters, project manager for Peters Concrete Company.
Businesses were advised to use back entrances wherever possible.
