Three stages of East Gateway endeavor combined
By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
With winter giving way to spring, Whitewater officials are starting to turn their attention toward construction work. Final details of one of the largest endeavors in recent years – the East Gateway project – are starting to take shape.
City officials on March 4 discussed several changes for the $2.3 million project that will involve reconstructing Milwaukee Street to Wisconsin Street and a three-way intersection that conjoins with Whitewater and Main streets.
In a report last week to the Common Council, Assistant City Manager Christopher McDonnell recommended doing the work all at once, rather than the previously proposed strategy of doing it in three separate stages.
McDonnell said there were several drawbacks to the staged proposal. For example, contractors would not be able to begin subsequent phases until each individual one was completed. The scenario, he said, could delay the ultimate completion of the project, which was to have started in May and run through October.
By contrast, McDonnell said doing the entire stretch in one fell swoop would reduce the timeline from four to six weeks.
The one-stage proposal also bubbled to the surface after feedback from affected property owners came in.
“During discussions, only one owner preferred staged construction,” McDonnell said. “The overwhelming majority of owners preferred non-staged construction, and for the construction to begin as soon as possible.”
In his report to the council, McDonnell said only one business owner had objections with the one-stage plan that was ultimately approved by the council on a 6-0 vote.
While the one-stage method is expected to create a streamlined, more efficient approach to the work, McDonnell conceded it is not a perfect scenario. With a full-on approach to the construction, access to businesses could be more challenging once the work gets underway.
But city officials echoed a similar promise of providing temporary signage to help notify motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians how they can reach some of their favorite merchants.
McDonnell also presented the council with a revised timeline during this final stage of the planning process. Elected officials were on board with the details.
The city is in the process of soliciting bids for the construction work, and companies need to have their quotes turned in by March 19. Plans call for city staff to open the bids March 25 and provide a recommendation to the council April 3.
The council also gave the green light to proceed with final design documents for the project. Work will include revamping one intersection that has been deemed awkward in its current configuration. Eastbound traffic along Main Street will be eliminated, according to the plans.
Pedestrian-friendly touches are part of the plans, as are streetscaping enhancements to help beautify the area.
The city’s East Gateway region was last updated in 1979. At a previous meeting, City Manager Cameron Clapper said most of the existing infrastructure is antiquated by today’s standards.
“There has been an issue with accessibility, as well as good design,” Clapper said. “That’s why (pedestrian friendly features) are being added to the project.”
