Work continues on Bus. 51 in Whiting, but long way to go

By Patrick Lynn

Work continues on a massive reconstruction project along the Bus. 51 corridor in Whiting and Plover this week.

Project engineer Korey Boehm from the Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation said the project is similar to the first phase of the rebuild, which took place between Green and Springville drives in Plover and was completed in November of 2016.

The second phase takes place between Tommy’s Turnpike and Minnesota Ave. Changes include widening the roadway, addition of bicycle lanes, new LED lighting, reconstructed sidewalks, and raised medians. Curb ramps will also be upgraded to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.

The causeway over McDill Pond will also be widened, Boehm said, adding while crews may need to detour traffic during some periods of construction, “the intent is to maintain access to the boat landing at all times.”

Recently, crews completed paving a section of concrete sidewalk from Porter Rd. to the north, on the east side of Bus. 51. Crews also finished the grading for the temporary pavement widening on the north side of County HH between Locust St. and Bus. 51.

Currently, crews are working on the new concrete sidewalk between Hickory Dr. and Porter Rd. on the east side of Bus. 51, and removing the turbidity barrier in McDill Pond.

Next week, crews will place temporary asphalt pavement to patch side road intersections with Bus. 51 and between the new concrete pavement and existing roadway. Crews will also pave the temporary widening between Locust St. and Bus. 51 on the north side of County HH, according to a news update from WisDOT.

According to a news release from WisDOT, the Rose St./Bus. 51 intersection will be permanently closed beginning Monday, Nov. 12. Beech St. at Bus. 51 has also been permanently closed.

Northbound Bus. 51 between County HH and Minnesota Ave. remains closed, with detours using County HH and Nebel St., until utility work in the Bus. 51/County HH intersection is complete in mid-November.

The sidewalk between Minnesota Ave. and County HH has been removed, and pedestrians and bicyclists are asked to use the sidewalk on Nebel St. and County HH. Detour signs are in place.

Pedestrian traffic north of Tommy’s Tpke. to County HH is detoured using School St./First Ave. and the paved pathway constructed on the Village of Whiting Utility easement. Cyclists and pedestrians are encouraged to use this route to avoid hazards inside the construction zone.

Some of the roadway for pedestrian and bicycle use has been delineated by white tape, but motorists on the route need to exercise caution as there will likely be increased pedestrian traffic.

Crews reduced County HH to one lane in each direction between School St. and Minnesota Ave., with work scheduled for completion in mid-November.

Motorists should continue to expect lane closures, flagging operations, and lane shifts.

Business and property owners can contact the onsite Project Leader Korey Boehm at (715) 459-2943 or the project field office at (715) 544-6462.

Residents can sign up for weekly email updates on the project here.