Ohio Street Opening

I received the following forwarded media release from Public Works Director David Patek regarding the opening of Ohio Street. This is great news, especially for the businesses along Ohio Street.

November 12, 2008

For more information, contact: Kim Rudat, Regional Communications Manager kim.rudat@dot.state.wi.us, (920) 492-5743

Ohio Street in Oshkosh opening Friday, November 14. Landscaping work is continuing

(Green Bay) The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) NE Region office at Green Bay is announcing Ohio Street in Oshkosh is opening Friday, November 14. It is tentatively scheduled to be open at noon.

The center lanes will be open, but there will be intermittent closures of the outside lanes for the completion of finishing work on the adjacent sidewalk and landscaping. All the work is weather dependant.

-Bryan

Wisconsin Street Bridge Finally Opening

I received the following forwarded email from Public Works Director David Patek regarding the opening of the Wisconsin Street bridge and Witzel Avenue intersection. However, Ohio Street is scheduled to remain closed "probably for another week" according to email from Tom Buchholz of the WI-DOT.

The weather has cooperated with contractors so Witzel Avenue across new Wisconsin Street Bridge will be open Thursday afternoon. Pavement marking is set to begin later today and tomorrow, traffic signals will be turned and powered, and final street lighting complete by Thursday. Thursday afternoon ride home for work should be better for many.

Ohio Street will remain closed to through traffic probably for another week to finish up asphalt in driveways, lighting, landscaping, weather dependent of course. We will plan to send press release when we are ready to open Ohio Street.

Tom Buchholz, P.E.
Phone 920-492-0142
Fax 920-492-7707
E-Mail: tom.buchholz@dot.state.wi.us

-Bryan

Orange Barrels

It has been said that there are only two seasons in Wisconsin - winter and road construction. Now that winter finally is over, it must be time for road construction.

In an effort to consolidate information, I have listed below links to three Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) projects in/around Oshkosh.

Wisconsin Street Bridge
US 41 expansion
US 45 expansion

There also are links on the city's Web site to keep you up-to-date on projects.

Ohio Street/Wisconsin Street Bridge
Traffic restrictions information and map (updated weekly)

The only road construction information I could find on the county's Web site is on the West Side Arterial Corridor Location Study Oshkosh Area. However, this is extremely important for the future growth of Oshkosh.

Finally, as most of you are aware, Oshkosh will become home to several roundabouts in the coming years, the first of which will be at the intersection of Jackson Street and Murdock Avenue in 2009. To help educate the general public, the WisDOT has a Web site dedicated to roundabouts, including a video on how they work and why they are beneficial.

-Bryan