One month down. Five more to go.
State Highway 22 construction in the city of Oconto Falls reached a one-month milestone last week, and crews are deep into the first phase of a two-phase project scheduled to end Oct. 31.
“We’re trying to do the best we can with the weather conditions we have,” said Duke Peters at an information meeting Friday. Peters is the project manager for Peters Concrete Company, the primary contractor for the Highway 22 reconstruction project in Oconto Falls.
The $3.95 million DOT project includes pavement removal and replacement, curb and gutter, sidewalks, storm sewer, street lighting, pavement marking and street signing. Project boundaries for the 1.6-mile stretch are West Highland Drive to East Highland Drive.
As part of Phase 1, Highway 22 (Chestnut Street) from East Highland Drive to Columbia Street is torn up, and barricades block access. Motorists are encouraged to avoid driving in the construction zone and take side streets to get their destination on Chestnut Street.
At the informational meeting, representatives of Peshtigo National Bank, Mercier’s Fast Stop and The Penguin Again — businesses located in the area under construction — spoke about the importance of access for customers. They use directional signs at Highway 22 cross streets to guide customers to their location and advise their clients of the best route to take.
“Most of the time customers just call, and we get them there,” said Carrie Hill, vice president of Peshtigo National Bank.
The staff at the bank directs customers to use either Highland Drive or VanBuren Street, depending on where construction is taking place and which bank driveway is more accessible.
Blocked access was a concern of Jen Sadorf, owner of The Penguin Again, where both driveways have been blocked at times during the construction project.
“I just want to make sure we have one driveway open,” she told the project managers.
In his project update, Peters said grading on Highway 22 from the railroad tracks to the Highland Drive intersection was scheduled to be completed Friday. Grading will continue on Highway 22 from Mercier’s Fast Stop to Adams Street this week.
When the school district’s summer vacation begins the week of June 8, construction will extend past Washington Middle School up to South Main Street.
Paving is scheduled to start the same week and end by Aug. 1, signaling the end of Phase 1 and start of Phase 2, through Main Street in the downtown.
Highway 22 will remain closed and the detour will be in place for the duration of the construction project, scheduled to end Oct. 31. Local traffic will have access.
