Second Street project comes under fire

Mike Voss, senior project manager for MSA Professional Services spoke to the residents of Second St. on Tuesday night discussing what will exactly be happening when the road construction project begins the next day.

The project began on Wednesday, April 20, with tree removal. Street reconstruction will begin in June 2022. A majority of completion will happen by October 14, with the final layer of asphalt installed on or before June 30, 2023.

Within that time, N. Second St. will be reconstructed from Spence St. north to Adams St.

A full-depth reconstruction of N. Second St. will occur, including curb, gutter and sidewalk repairs along with storm sewer and inlet boxes. The small 4-inch watermain will be replaced with an 8-inch ductile iron watermain. Water services will be replaced from the main to the property line (street right-of-way line). Sanitary sewer and manholes will be replaced. Sanitary laterals will be replaced from the main to the property line.

The north half of North St. will be reconstructed from Second St. to the railroad tracks since the storm sewer from N. Second St. will be piped along the north side of North St.

The city will borrow general obligation funds to complete this project. In addition, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Local Road Improve-

STAFF PHOTO/NATHANIEL UNDERWOOD ment Program-Supplement (LRIP-S) will be used to help fund this project. The project costs an estimated $1,865,398.10.

Roadway reconstruction of N. Second St. includes 12 inches of selected crushed (larger) base, with the lower six inches of the base being recycled material provided by the city. The upper two inches of the gravel base will be new material, and completing the layers is a 4-inch, new asphaltic pavement. Project includes concrete curb, gutter and sidewalks on both sides along with new storm sewer.

The north half of North Street will have similar reconstruction as N. Second St. Along with the new curb and gutter, there will also be a new 15-inch storm sewer discharging to the railroad ditch.

Charlotte Haines, who has been advocating to keep the trees along the boulevard of Second St. said, “I have sent a petition around to my neighbors and I have gotten several people to sign their names because they want the trees to remain where they are during this project.”

Dan Hederer said, “I’m not against having trees on the boulevard. If we didn’t have to take any of them down, I’d be all for that. But the chance of any of the trees surviving either as the work is being done or afterwards, is slim to none.”

After much discussion and concern from several people from the community wondering why every tree has to come down during this project, Tom Hubbard, senior engineering technician for MSA, explained to the community members that it’s not the street reconstruction that causes the tree damage, it’s replacing the curbs and gutters that do the most damage to the trees’ roots.

Everyone at the meeting agreed that project location is the best spot in town, especially during the annual Colby Cheese Days festivities.

However, Dan Hederer reminded the community members that when there is a reconstruction project of this size happening, damage has to be done to the site to be able to get the work done.

Hederer added, “We appreciate your efforts in trying to save the trees, but unfortunately, the trees have to come down.”