Less holiday travel expected

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Despite troublesome flooding in the Beloit, most of the summer construction projects have been able to carry on without interruption.

“All of our construction projects have not been right up against the river,” said City Engineer Mike Flesch. “They've been progressing as scheduled.”

The construction on West Hart Road is completed and is open to the public, Flesch said. West Hart Road was completely reconstructed with a new water main, sanitary and storm sewer, curb and gutter, sidewalks, concrete pavement, and decorative lights.

Though gravel placement on St. Lawrence Avenue was delayed because of weather, it has been placed and construction throughout the streets of West Side Initiative is moving along.

“The weather has not been a real significant hindrance,” Flesch said. “We may have lost one day.”

The West Side Initiative includes St. Lawrence Avenue from Fourth Street to Vine Street and Vine from St. Lawrence to Roosevelt Avenue. Crews placed electrical lighting and conducted final cleanup and are now working on the placing curb and gutter.

On the East Side Initiative, which includes Bushnell Street to Park Avenue to Central Avenue and Harrison Avenue from Grand Avenue to Emerson Street, the underground work is currently being completed and all pavement, curbs and gutters have been removed. The construction is expected to be complete by mid-August.

The area of Burton Street from McKinley Avenue to Sixth Street will be completely constructed starting mid-July, Flesch said. The construction will include a new curb and gutter, water main extension, asphalt pavement, decorative street lights, and sidewalks. An off-street bike and pedestrian path that connects the riverfront with the Boys and Girls Club and Krueger Park will also be constructed. The area of Burton Street from Madison Road to McKinley Avenue is still closed to through traffic. Flesch said the new water main is well underway, and replacement of curb and gutter and new asphalt pavement will also be completed soon.

On Public Avenue, three colors were selected for the ribbons of color concrete that will be placed on the sidewalk area in front of the Beloit Vision Center. The three colors are straw, onyx, and an apple red. Crews are working to pour the concrete and finish up road repairs, which were completed recently, Flesch said.

Tree removal is currently under way on Eclipse Boulevard, and crews are working on the interior demolition of the new Beloit Public Library.

While most of the construction has been able to go on as scheduled, flooding has set back a couple of projects, Flesch said. The Riverside Shoreline Stabilization, which was supposed to start earlier this summer, has been delayed due to high water levels. The stabilization is set to begin in September barring any more flooding issues, Flesch said. The project includes repairing of the erosion near mid-lawn shelters, planting native species shoreline plants and flowers, cleaning debris from the river bank, and installing informational and educational signs.

The construction of a canoe and kayak launch in the Chester Square parking lot has also been delayed until the river recedes. Once completed, the launch will be open to all residents, but the city will not provide canoes or kayaks. Flesch is hoping the launch will be constructed by the fall.

Construction updates are posted weekly on the city's Web site.