Messer Street Improvement Project to start March 31

The Messer Street Improvement Project — which involves repairs and updates to sanitary sewer mains, manholes, laterals, streets and storm sewers — is set begin later this month, Project Manager Mark Barden told residents at a public information meeting at Rhinelander City Hall on March 12.

Construction is planned to take place over three stages starting March 31 and concluding Oct. 31. 

Three phases

Phase 1, which is slated to run March 31 through June 13, is limited to Rose Street. Work includes concrete curb and gutter replacement, utilities updates, sidewalk installation along Hodag Park and the first layer of asphalt.

Work will start at the Hodag Park Boat Launch and progress toward Thayer Street.

“Our concern is the boat landing: we want access to the boat landing at all times.” Barden said. “They have to start down there, that’s the lowest area, that’s the controlling area that controls all other sanitary sewer around the project area.”

Despite some overlapping in dates for the first two phases, Barden said there will be no construction on Lakeshore Drive or Evergreen Court until Rose is complete, so as to maintain access to the boat landing.

The work area for Phase 2, which runs May 13 to July 2, includes Messer Street between Rose Street and Hodag Park Drive, all of Hodag Park Drive and all of Fremont Street. Similar to Phase 1, this part of the project consists of concrete curb and gutter replacement, sidewalk installation along Hodag Park and the first layer of asphalt.

The work area for Phase 3, which runs July 7 to Oct.31, includes Lakeshore Drive, Evergreen Court, West Park Street, Doyle Street intersections and the alley that runs parallel between Messer and Thayer Streets. This area will see curb and gutter replacement, sidewalk replacement and the first layer of asphalt.

A second layer of asphalt will be added to the entire project area next year. The surface layer is added later, Barden explained, to make any additional repairs and patches as the road settles before applying a final layer.

Barden also noted water will likely pool on the streets during this interim period, since the single layer is not designed to meet the concrete curb and gutter for proper drainage. This will be resolved when the final surface layer is applied in 2026.

Additional elements

In addition to street and utility work, the project will affect parking at Hodag Park. The parking lot on the north end of Hodag Park will be expanded and updated, while the parking lot adjoining the ballpark will be eliminated and replaced with grass.

Driveway approaches within the work area will be replaced with concrete approaches.

“We will match into whatever material you have on your driveway — it will match your concrete, asphalt, gravel driveways — but that approach will be concrete,” Barden said.

Barden was careful to note that concrete approaches in areas with no sidewalk will still have 5-foot-wide sections that appear to meet sidewalks, even though there are no current plans to install sidewalks in those areas.

“All we’re trying to do is prepare for future sidewalk,” he said. That may be 40 years down the road or it may never happen, but you’re going to see that sidewalk section in your driveway.”

Tree removal — or not

While the roads will not widen, and sidewalk additions are limited, many trees will still be removed due to utility updates.

“The majority of these trees will have to come down,” Barden said, noting the trees on Evergreen Court are of the greatest concern. Starting in mid-April, trees that require removal will be marked with an ‘X.’

All trees that are on city right-of-way and within five feet of new sewer and water lines will be removed. If a city right-of-way tree is 10 feet from sewer and water lines, it may be salvageable.

Barden said that after roots are cut and pipes are installed, City Forester Tom Jerow will inspect the tree and determine whether he thinks the tree can survive.

“If he thinks there is a possibility it will survive, you can keep that tree. If the thinks there’s a possibility it will die, we are going to take that tree,” Barden said.

To be clear: this only applies to trees that are on city right-of-way.

“If we get into a tree that’s on private property, again we will take precautions, at that time if Tom says he thinks the tree is going to die, but it’s on your private property, that’s your decision,” Barden said.

If the owner consents, the city will remove the tree at that time. If the owner chooses to keep the tree and it dies at a later date, tree removal is the property owner’s responsibility.

The total project cost is $8.5 million, with construction costs making up $6.6 million. The difference is made up of engineering and legal fees, land acquisition costs, financing and other expenses.

Musson Brothers Inc was awarded the project after bids were opened last month. Construction costs were well below the estimate, Barden said.

“It was a very competitive bid and we’re getting out of that COVID-era where we saw some elevated prices three years ago, those are stabilized now,” he said.

Michael Strasburg may be reached at [email protected].