Crews On Track In Wilson Avenue Construction

(KNSI) – Wilson Avenue construction from Highway 23 past East St. Germain Street and the railroad tracks is a complete rebuild.

It is starting on the southern end first. Project Engineer Steve Ryynanen says the road has been torn up and earth moved around until First Street Southeast. Then workers will replace the deep-set sanitary sewer, followed by the storm sewer and water main. Lastly, the road foundation is laid and it is repaved with curbs and lighting reinstalled. Ryynanen says it’s past time to replace it all.

“It’s more of an age-related thing. These utilities are from the [19]50’s. And they’re in rough shape.”

With two construction projects happening almost right next to each other, municipal and state contractors are coordinating as much as possible. Ryynanen says they will make sure that when state workers who are redoing the Highway 10/Highway 23 interchange move to Lincoln Avenue by the Target store, his crews will not have the East St. Germain intersection closed down.

“We’re doing everything we can to separate those closures. The closure at Wilson will be ahead of the closures to the east and to the southeast.”

Ryynanen says they hope to work south to north along the avenue but will jump ahead to the intersection if necessary. Crews are on schedule. Ryynanen says the East St. Germain intersection is tentatively scheduled to be closed in mid-July.

Ryynanen hosts regular meetings at St. Katherine Drexel School. A couple of concerns that cropped up at Thursday’s gathering was the west side truck detour route through downtown. A driver in attendance said it is difficult for commercial trucks to make the right turn from 7th Avenue North to 1st/Second Street North. Ryynanen will also look at an access point for trucks for Simonson Lumber.

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