Spring officially began at 4:01 a.m. March 20, also marking the start of construction season in Wisconsin. In Oconto Falls, the reconstruction of Columbia Street is getting underway.
Utilities manager Greg Kuhn told the city council March 11 that both contractors were planning to mobilize this week setting up barriers and getting equipment in place to start work on March 24.
Information about the project has been posted on Facebook and the cityofocontofalls.com website, Kuhn said. The web presence is part of a concerted effort to inform the community about plans to rebuild the street from Chestnut Street to North Farm Road and County Road I.
Dorner Inc. of Green Bay is the main contractor on the project. The scope of work involves the complete reconstruction of the street including pavement, water mains, and sanitary and storm sewers, along with sidewalks along one side of the street, which will lead to three schools once the new Oconto Falls Middle School is completed next year.
The effort also includes reconstruction of a sewer lift station by Advance Construction of Howard.
The early start is affected by the city’s Aug. 29 deadline to complete the work in time for the 2025-26 academic year and the opening of the middle school.
Workers expect to work beginning on the west end of the project, where Columbia Street intersects with Chestnut and Union avenues. During the work, traffic will be detoured along Chestnut and Union, which are part of state Highway 22, as well as South Main Street and North Farm Road.
Kuhn said Oconto Falls Municipal Services has spent the last two months verifying service along the construction route.
“I haven’t spoken to a homeowner or resident on the street that isn’t well-informed as to what’s going on,” he said. “I don’t think it would be a bad idea to have some sort of meeting once we get rolling to see just if there’s any interest from them, but I think they’re all pretty well understanding where we’re going to start from.”
Alderperson Devin Wirtz said neighbors asked a lot of questions at a recent informational session.
“It just seemed like there was a lot more involvement that last meeting than there was in previous street projects,” Wirtz said.
The total cost of the project is estimated around $2.78 million. Part of the cost is being paid by the state Department of Administration, with $1 million of federal funding through the Community Development Block Grant program.
wbluhm@newmedia-wi.com
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