Water main leak prompts Church Street detour

By Brandi Makuski

STEVENS POINT — A water main leak will force a detour on Church Street beginning Tuesday morning.

The Stevens Point Department of Public Utilities will close the southbound lanes of Church Street in the block south of Patch Street starting at 6 a.m. Tuesday, June 16. Southbound traffic will be routed east on Patch Street and south on Michigan Avenue before reconnecting with Church Street.

Utilities Director Joel Lemke said the repair wasn’t planned but became necessary after a contractor identified the leak during the city’s annual post-hydrant-flushing inspection.

“We’re not voluntarily fixing one. This one is an urgent thing,” Lemke said. “Unfortunately, we have a leak, so it’s eventually going to surface and maybe create a void.”

Each year, the city hires a leak detection specialist to inspect the water system after hydrant flushing. Lemke said the process often catches hydrants that weren’t fully closed, but this year it also revealed what he described as the city’s largest active water leak.

The affected stretch of Church Street has been a trouble spot for years.

“I think a lot of us would identify Church Street from Patch to Michigan as probably the worst stretch of water infrastructure,” Lemke said. “We dig there more than anywhere.”

The area is expected to be rebuilt during a future phase of the Business 51 reconstruction project, which will replace aging water infrastructure throughout the corridor.

While the city has estimated the detour could remain in place until 4 p.m. Friday, Lemke said crews won’t know the full extent of the repair until excavation begins.

“Likely the best-case scenario is that it opens end of day Wednesday,” he said. “I’m hoping that the worst-case scenario is end of day Friday.”

City officials said updates will be provided as work progresses. Plans could change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.