The City of Gillett has a couple of big issues to prepare for, its Tourism and Marketing Committee chair told the city council May 2.
In his regular report to the council, Alderperson Jerry Luther said the planned reconstruction of state Highway 22 through the city and the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay are likely to have a major impact on traffic through the city.
The state Department of Transportation is planning to rebuild a 1.08-mile stretch of the state highway from Finnegan Lake Road on the west to the intersection with state Highway 32 during the spring and summer of 2026.
According to the project web page at wisconsindot.gov, the work includes new storm sewer, culvert replacements, multiple intersection improvements, new concrete curb and gutter, new concrete sidewalk and new concrete pavement. Traffic will be detoured during the project, although the DOT plans to maintain access to property owners and businesses in the work zone.
“We haven’t heard much from the DOT lately, but they seem to still be on track for 2026,” Luther said. The city will be working to replace utility infrastructure through the work zone before the state-hired road crews arrive.
The state held a meeting in April to provide information to property owners whose right of way will be rented and/or purchased to make room for the project, but Luther and other council members said the DOT did not provide much notice about the meeting. The city’s copy of the mailing arrived less than a week before the meeting was held, giving local officials little time to help promote the session.
The NFL Draft in April 2025 was a major topic of discussion at the latest meeting of the Tourism and Economic Development Corporation for the Oconto Region board of directors, Luther said. He is the city’s representative to TEDCOR.
The event is expected to use up every available hotel and motel room in the area and perhaps the state of Wisconsin and beyond, and bed and breakfasts are charging up to seven times more than their usual fees for those nights, Luther said.
“We want to get as many people as possible to visit Oconto County while they’re here,” he said. “The clock is ticking.”
The city’s Tourism and Marketing Committee will meet soon to discuss the logistics of both upcoming issues, Luther said.
wbluhm@newmedia-wi.com
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