March 27, 2023 at 2:06 p.m.
'Brace for it': City street and utility improvement projects to begin soon
'Brace for it': City street and utility improvement projects to begin soon
"2023 is going to be a huge year for road construction for Rhinelander," Myrum told those gathered at City Hall Tuesday evening for a public informational meeting on the projects. "We have a lot going on this year. We're going to have the DOT's State Highway 17 project. Then there's going to be our Timber Drive project, our Oneida (Avenue) project. We have hotel developments and there's going to be some construction there with some of those. So please brace for it."
"It's going to be beautiful in the end," he added.
The primary reason for the work on Timber Drive is to replace failing utilities "and also we're preparing for Rhinelander to grow especially out to the east," Myrum explained.
The Timber Drive project - from Coolidge Avenue to Highway 17 - will involve 4,500 lineal feet. This will be a "full remove and replace," Myrum said.
"A big change for Timber Drive is we are narrowing this road," he added. "A reason for it is we have a lot of complaints about speed on Timber Drive. By narrowing it, you're constricting the lanes and it does not seem as conducive for driving fast. This is just an attempt."
Another benefit of reducing the width of road is to make more storage space for snow, Myrum noted.
The Timber Drive project will also include the installation of a bike path to be paid for through a DNR grant, he added.
According to schedule included in the meeting packet, work on the Timber Drive project is expected to begin on May 8 and will continue through the end of August.
The city public works department will manage the Timber Drive project while Town & Country Engineering will oversee the Oneida Avenue project, which is much more expansive.
The Oneida project area includes Oneida Avenue from Barnes Street to Frederick Street, King Street from Stevens Street to Oneida Avenue, Anderson Street from Pelham Street to Oneida Avenue, Conro Street from Pelham Street to Oneida Avenue, Blackburn Street from Courtney Street to Anderson Street, a piece of Pelham Street near City Hall, and Courtney Street from Pelham Street to Oneida Avenue.
Like the Timber Drive project, this is "utility-driven project", according to Mark Barden of Town & Country.
Water main, sanitary sewer and storm sewer work is planned, he said.
Work is expected to begin on April 17 and 18 and will continue through early September, according to the schedule included in the packet.
Final paving for both projects will not take place until 2024.
Residents were warned there will be some planned shut downs of the water system in the work area. Updates on both projects will be posted regularly on the city website - http://www.rhinelandercityhall.org.
The packet also included contact Information for both Myrum ([email protected] 715-365-8600) and Barden ([email protected], 920-650-7475). In addition to the city projects, the DOT is planning work on Highway 17 (between U.S. 8 and Stevens Street) and Highway 8 (from the roundabout to N. Rifle Road) yet this year.
Comments:
You must login to comment.