New feature: Trying to Reason with Construction Season: June update

The work you need to know about going on in Wausau road construction and

Work is in progress on Washington Street. The west side is paved and should open soon, but the east side is still gravel.

There’s an old joke that says Wisconsin has two seasons: Winter and construction. I always thought it would be nice to have all the construction projects in the city laid out in one central place. A lot of this gets shared around piecemeal but we think there is value in seeing it all in one place

We’re starting with Wausau and state highway projects but hope to expand to the metro area in future editions, especially the metro south.

Wausau construction

Washington Street and other mall area projects: Right now, work is underway on revamping Washington Street. The work will make Washington Street run in two-directions (before it was a one-way street with traffic moving toward Third Street from each direction). The work has proven difficult for downtown businesses but the work is expected to be completed soon, according to city reports. The west side of the street currently has pavement, the east side is still gravel as of Monday afternoon. Public Works Director Eric Lindman says the west side of Washington should open up soon. Best alternative route: Parking is still widely available downtown and the former JC Penney ramp is free while the construction continues. And the side walks are as open as possible to allow people to still get to downtown businesses. (Washington Street will (phased) starting this week open up west.

Cherry Street: This street will undergo a complete reconstruction and water main replacement. Currently it is closed from W. Wausau Avenue to Eldred Street. On June 9, and another phase from Eldred Street to Randolph kicks off at the end of the month. Best alternative route: First Avenue one block over offers the same north south direction for those looking to travel that direction.

Randolph Street: This street will undergo a complete reconstruction and water main replacement from Merrill Avenue to Third Avenue and kick off June 9. Best alternative route: There aren’t a lot of nearby east-west streets, so you might have to go either north on Third Avenue to Merrill Avenue, or south to W. Wausau Avenue, depending on where you’re trying to get to.

Completion on the above three are expected at the end of October.