Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Sunday, July 20, 2008

West Avenue reconstruction in the home stretch

The $5 million reconstruction of West Avenue is on track to be completed by Nov. 1. During the next week, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will continue to shift traffic to the newly constructed west side of the roadway. Dick Riniker photo

By SAMANTHA MARCUS | La Crosse Tribune

The most significant road construction project in La Crosse in recent years is nearing its third and

final leg.

Drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians have spent 127 days navigating the reduced and restricted spans of West Avenue, a main artery through the city’s South Side.

During the next week, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will continue to shift traffic to the newly constructed west side of the roadway for the home stretch of the seven-month project.

Vehicles were redirected to the outside lanes Friday, a traffic pattern that should last for about a week as crews extend storm sewer pipes and pave areas along the center of the road, said Dale Merten, Wisconsin Department of Transportation project manager.

Improvements are on schedule for completion by Nov. 1, despite persistent rain throughout the construction season.

“The project’s been going along rather smoothly,” said Steve Flottmeyer, project development supervisor with the DOT.

The southern stretch of the north-south road from Green Bay to Jackson streets reopened slightly earlier than expected in mid-May.

The $5 million reconstruction project began March 17 and involves widening the road, adding raised medians, improving safety and decreasing congestion.

West Avenue by the numbers

0: Days the project is ahead or behind schedule.

1.25 MILLION: Dollars spent acquiring right of way.

5 MILLION: Cost in dollars of the total road reconstruction. “The majority of the project is being funded by state and federal funds,” said Steve Flottmeyer, Wisconsin Department of Transportation project development supervisor. The city is paying for all water and sanitary work, as well as part of the lighting along the route.

5: Intersections reduced to right in/right out only. Access to and from three of those intersections — at Johnson, Mississippi and Winnebago streets — were reduced to allow for longer protected turn lanes at Jackson and Market street intersections, Flottmeyer said. Pine and Badger streets are limited to right in/right out because of new medians at the intersections.

6: Increased width, in feet, on either side of West Avenue in all areas where a median was added.

6: Years since the design process for reconstruction began in 2002.

7: New signal lights installed at Green Bay, Jackson, Market, Cass, Main, State and Pine streets, plus southern signals at La Crosse Street.

10: Average number of personnel working on the project each day.

The actual number varies widely depending on the day’s activity, Flottmeyer said. More than 20 workers will be on hand for concrete paving or laying pipe. But fewer than five are needed for such activities as landscaping.

10: Hours per day, on average, crews work during the almost eight months of construction.

11: Number of contractors and subcontractors. Chippewa Concrete Services is the prime contractor, joined by subcontractors Steiger Construction, Harry Viner Inc., Poellinger Electric Inc., Mathy Construction, Hardy Inc., Guide Lines Pavement Marking, CT Enterprises, Central States Signing, Badger Wall Systems and Central Concrete Cutting Inc.

25: Years the new concrete is expected to last. The lifespan for the asphalt is 18 years.

28: Number of crashes on West Avenue since the southern stretch was closed off in mid-March, according to La Crosse police. In contrast, 39 crashes happened during the same time period in 2007.

48: Properties where right of way was acquired for the project. Temporary, limited easements were acquired on another 34 properties.

67: Days that West Avenue between Green Bay and Jackson streets was closed to traffic from March 17 through May 23.

68: Days of rain since the southern stretch of the road closed for construction March 17. Some of that snow and rainfall came in trace amounts, but on 67 days, something fell out of the sky, said Brad Adams with the National Weather Service office in La Crosse.

68: Number of trees removed for construction. “They will all be replaced, although not necessarily in the same locations,” Flottmeyer said. The city is responsible for tree replacement.

255: Square yards of concrete poured for concrete driveways, as of earlier this week.

2,500: Cost, in dollars, of a new traffic signal. That doesn’t include the cost of wiring, control boxes, pull boxes or optically activated systems, Flottmeyer noted.

2,950: Linear feet of storm sewer pipe already laid. About 1,688 linear feet have yet to be installed.

8,500: Length, in feet, of the entire West Avenue reconstruction project. Also expressed as 1.61 miles.

8,552: Linear feet of concrete poured for curb and gutter, as of earlier this week.

19,500: Square yards of concrete poured for pavement as of earlier this week.

28,000: Vehicles thought to use the route daily before construction. That number, Flottmeyer said, was measured at the busier, north end of the road near State Street. Department of Transportation officials predict about 36,000 vehicles will drive West Avenue daily 20 years from now.

45,000: Dollars budgeted for West Avenue landscaping, including topsoil, sod and watering.

47,210: Square feet of concrete poured for sidewalk.

150,000: Price, in dollars, for an entire signaled intersection.

What’s in the name?

n The name “West Avenue” dates back to a city ordinance from

March 25, 1859. It was changed from La Crosse and Mississippi Avenue, according to La Crosse Public Library archives. The ordinance did not give a reason for the change or reason for the new name.

Samantha Marcus can be reached at (608) 791-8220 or smarcus@lacrossetribune.com.