Progress on the state Highway 22 street construction work in Oconto Falls was visible Friday morning, as paving took place on the west half of Chestnut Avenue, beginning at the the East Highland Drive intersection.
Paving was scheduled to continue past Monroe Street, and the pavement will take about a week to cure, meaning drums, barricades and ropes will remain in place to keep traffic off the street. However, the Jackson Street intersection will be open.
“We prefer nobody drives through unless they’re trying to get to one of those businesses or residences right on (Highway) 22,” said Duke Peters, project manager.
Although the new pavement was a welcome sign of progress for those attending an informational meeting Friday at City Hall, Peters indicated the project was falling behind schedule.
Stage 1, from East Highland Drive to South Main Street, was scheduled to be completed Aug. 1. According to Peters, “utility conflicts” will delay Stage 1 about one week, until Aug. 7.
The second stage, through Main Street in the downtown, is scheduled to begin in August and end Oct. 31.
Sidewalk work was scheduled to start Friday on Chestnut Avenue, but contractors don’t plan to place top soil, seed or mulch at the roadside yet. Crews will continue their work on storm sewer and grading and graveling of Chestnut Avenue to South Main Street.
“It’ll be a busy time in the next couple of weeks, hopefully. Hopefully, you’ll see a lot get done, too,” Peters said.
