About four dozen people took part in a construction update meeting scheduled by the Department of Transportation Monday evening. The session in the high school commons at Sturgeon Bay High School lasted a little more than an hour. The DOT’s Project Manager, Jeremy Ashauer, touched on the elements of the Highway 42/57 projects, noting that 1.7 miles of highway, between Michigan Street and Egg Harbor Road, would be tied up for several months in 2016, with the goal of completing the project in late June or early July. Ashauer pointed out that the state agency has been working on planning elements for the project for many years, based upon a memorandum of understanding between the city, the county and the DOT. He said during the project…
-The existing two-lane roadway will be replaced with concrete pavement…
-Multi-lane roundabouts will be installed at the intersections of Michigan Street and Egg Harbor Road…
-The Alabama Street intersection will be rebuilt similar to Utah Street to eliminate left turns and cross traffic…
Ashauer said, beginning in late March, Highway 42/57 will be closed to through traffic from the Bayview Bridge to Egg Harbor Road. Much like three years ago, when the bridge was closed, traffic will be detoured through downtown Sturgeon Bay for the duration of the project. A special route will also be set up for truck traffic. In addition, east/west traffic will be able to temporarily cross Utah and Alabama streets while construction is underway. During the question and answer period, Ashauer was asked about the Gordon Road connection to Highway 42/57. One questioner said the so-called “Culver’s corner” intersection was extremely dangerous, with a greater need to be made safer than installing roundabouts at Michigan and Egg Harbor Road. Ashauer said the crash statistics did not warrant the upgrade.
In addition to the road reconstruction project, rehabilitation of the Bayview Bridge will be performed as well. Improvements include…
-Replacing steel beams & the steel grid deck…
-Replacing expansion joints & bearings…
-Performing concrete repairs to girders, abutments & parapets…
-Repairing and replacing machinery & electrical components.
The Bayview Bridge will not be available to open for waterway traffic during the rehabilitation project. Height restrictions for boaters will be in place during this time. The hope is to have the bridge project completed before the 4th of July, if not sooner.
