The 2016 portion of the Rhinelander Streetscape Project is heading into the final days and a top official says, weather permitting, they're on pace for a scheduled completion date. Updating the underground infrastructure began April 1.
Project leader Mark Barden says most of the below ground work is nearing completion...
".....the majority of the pipe work is in, we have one stretch to do on North Anderson Street. Once that's in, it's all going to be street work. You're going to see a lot of concrete going down in the next week.Contractors have been working on finishing up Davenport, getting the intersection of Brown and Davenport opened up...."
Barden says the heavy rains in recent weeks slowed progress, but thinks they will make this year's completion date of October 31....
"....it held the concrete contractors off a little bit. That was a slow down. Some of the streets that were meant to be undercut and put gravel in, that put the contractor off a little bit, but they're making up ground,so it's not going to delay the project overall. It was a little hiccup...."
He says the intent is to get the north end of the job opened up as quickly as possible. He says all the curb and gutter will be in this week, followed by sidewalks, light posts, and paving. He says by the end of September some trees will be planted, with others to be planted next spring.
Barden says by the end of October the downtown will be drive able. Next year, the final paving will take place along with the above ground changes.
