DOT hosting meetings over six years of road plans
Before removing the on-and off-ramps to the North Hastings Way (U.S. 53 Business)-Birch Street exchange next year, the State Department of Transportation will use the ramps to route traffic through a major construction zone.
The project - estimated at 9 million dollars - including the replacement of the bridge Birch Street with a signal at the intersection of high quality after North Hastings Way 17 feet and lowering the west approach to Birch Street about 3 feet. Construction should begin in mid-April to early May, with completion tentatively scheduled for late October, said Rick Shermo, a development project supervisor for the DOT region of North-West. The project, which also includes the installation of signals at North Hastings Way-Seymour Road crossing, is one of more than 450 in the region six years programme to improve the highway, which identifies projects from 2008 to 2013. These projects, if built, will invest more than $ 600 million in improving more than 1600 km of roads and 100 bridges. The DOT has scheduled two public meetings - one in Eau Claire today and another Wednesday in Superior - to gather public input on the program. "It is the public an opportunity to participate in the early planning process to help us identify projects that are not currently scheduled and give your comments on ongoing projects in the planning stages," said Don Gutkowski, DOT Region Director North-West. The projects included in the plan are based on the recommendations of local officials, the public and the DOT staff following technical analysis. The program is adjusted every two years in response to public priorities, changing conditions and funding levels approved in the state budget. "As it stands, it gives people a good overview of what we're looking," said Tom Beekman, DOT regional planning and programming chief. Major projects identified in the program include the replacement Holcombe Flowage bridge on Highway 27 north of Holcombe and replace the company covers Highway 29 on Highway 124 in Chippewa Falls with a roundabout, both planned for next year, and replace the concrete on Interstate 94 at Osseo Hudson, from 2010. "We get to the point where continuing to overlay the concrete asphalt simply not profitable," said Beekman. The plan also includes work on the company Melby U.S. 53 north of the street in Chippewa County, scheduled for 2012. The project, as next year to work on North Hastings Way Trade Birch Street, is part of an agreement in which the State is the rehabilitation of the company U.S. 53 before turning on the property the city of Eau Claire and village of Lake Hallie. O'Brien can be reached at 830-5838, 800-236-7077 or christena.obrien @ ecpc.com. |
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