The contracting firm for the rehabilitation of Highway 50 through Delavan presented its proposed work schedule and construction staging plan to the city March 22.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation hired Buteyn-Peterson Construction Co. Inc. of Sheboygan to complete the work.
City Public Works Director Mark Wendorf said the project can be generally described as three contracts in one, with the major work being the widening and reconstruction of Geneva Street from Park Avenue by Wileman Elementary School east to the median area between Shopko and Tractor Supply, along with the widening and reconstruction of Borg Road and Wright Street from Phoenix Street north to the driveway into Slumberland.
The main construction work area will be done “under traffic” with one lane in each direction for through highway traffic being maintained at all times. Median “islands” will be installed in the entire project area, with left turn bays for most existing commercial driveways. The Geneva Street, Wright Street and Borg Road junction will be rebuilt as a fully signalized intersection, but will feature with two eastbound straight lanes and two southbound left-turn lanes to relieve traffic delays, Wendorf said. Work on the reconstruction area is planned to begin April 10 and extend to Nov. 1.
The second work area is the repaving of Geneva Street from Park Avenue west to Wisconsin Street. Replacement of the water mains under the roadway segment will require closing the highway to through traffic, with a highway detour using Wright Street to connect highways 11 and 50. While the portion of Seventh Street is closed, the Wisconsin and Southern railroad company has scheduled replacement of the rail crossing and installation of traffic gates, Wendorf said. The second work area and the Highway 50 detour is planned to begin April 24 and finish by July 17. The railroad company is also planning to replace the Wright Street rail crossing sometime later in the year after the detour is removed.
The third work area will be along the north side of Geneva Street for the construction of a concrete walkway connecting Wright Street to the existing walkway on the east side of Interstate 43. Construction of the walkway construction will require installation of a large retaining wall for the interstate underpass, which will require some construction closures of the northernmost westbound traffic lane.
