MONROE - A simple and more persistent detour route for the city's 8th and 9th street reconstruction project - starting this spring - was finalized Monday.
The Common Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday on the route.
The detour route that the City of Monroe Public Safety Committee voted to send to Council for consideration differs from the one members had laid out last month.
The new route will take vehicles across town between 20th Avenue and Wisconsin 69, via 12th Street and 13th Avenue, before splitting into one-way streets at 11th and 10th streets. Tenth Street will be one-way west and 11th Street will be one-way east.
"The detour route should stay the same everyday," to eliminate confusion for travelers and reduce expense to the city, said Kelly Finkenbinder, director of public works.
The committee had planned to use the western section of the 8th and 9th street corridor, from Wis. 69 to 13th Avenue, during part of the construction period, but Finkenbinder said work will progress at various areas along the corridor throughout the project.
The reconstruction project includes water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer replacement, street widening and sidewalk replacement from Wisconsin 69 to 20th Avenue.
"Our goal is to get the project done as quickly as possible," Finkenbinder said.
Drivers will be able to cross 8th Street and 9th Street, and construction crews will make the roads passable so drivers can travel on some sections of the streets at various times.
"But 8th and 9th will not be wide open during the project," Finkenbinder said.
The city will need about 175 signs along the detour route, which will redirect traffic following Wisconsin Business 11.
Making and maintaining the signs could cost the city an estimated $40,000 to $45,000, but Finkenbinder and Police Chief Fred Kelley said the city could reduce that expense if city employees maintained the signs.
Maintenance includes ensuring the signs are in place and visible from the roads.
The needed signage will mark the detour, highway and truck route, as well as include directional and stop signs.
Finkenbinder said a persistent detour route would eliminate the need to change signs.
Temporary signs will also be used to direct shoppers to local businesses.
Chief Kelley said the detour route will be used by out-of-town visitors, while local residents will most likely find their own way around the construction site and across town.
"We should consider ourselves lucky we have a by-pass," he added.
The Common Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday on the route.
The detour route that the City of Monroe Public Safety Committee voted to send to Council for consideration differs from the one members had laid out last month.
The new route will take vehicles across town between 20th Avenue and Wisconsin 69, via 12th Street and 13th Avenue, before splitting into one-way streets at 11th and 10th streets. Tenth Street will be one-way west and 11th Street will be one-way east.
"The detour route should stay the same everyday," to eliminate confusion for travelers and reduce expense to the city, said Kelly Finkenbinder, director of public works.
The committee had planned to use the western section of the 8th and 9th street corridor, from Wis. 69 to 13th Avenue, during part of the construction period, but Finkenbinder said work will progress at various areas along the corridor throughout the project.
The reconstruction project includes water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer replacement, street widening and sidewalk replacement from Wisconsin 69 to 20th Avenue.
"Our goal is to get the project done as quickly as possible," Finkenbinder said.
Drivers will be able to cross 8th Street and 9th Street, and construction crews will make the roads passable so drivers can travel on some sections of the streets at various times.
"But 8th and 9th will not be wide open during the project," Finkenbinder said.
The city will need about 175 signs along the detour route, which will redirect traffic following Wisconsin Business 11.
Making and maintaining the signs could cost the city an estimated $40,000 to $45,000, but Finkenbinder and Police Chief Fred Kelley said the city could reduce that expense if city employees maintained the signs.
Maintenance includes ensuring the signs are in place and visible from the roads.
The needed signage will mark the detour, highway and truck route, as well as include directional and stop signs.
Finkenbinder said a persistent detour route would eliminate the need to change signs.
Temporary signs will also be used to direct shoppers to local businesses.
Chief Kelley said the detour route will be used by out-of-town visitors, while local residents will most likely find their own way around the construction site and across town.
"We should consider ourselves lucky we have a by-pass," he added.