Access to Marquette Road businesses hindered a couple days
Grading and base aggregate placement operations were done on Marquette Road late last week/early this week on stage 1 of construction.
By Correne Martin
Access to businesses on the 900 block of Marquette Road—including Hardee’s, Subway, Papa Murphy’s, American Family Insurance, Tropical Tan and Excalibur Laundromat—was hindered on several days this past week by construction on Wells Street, which has been the key thoroughfare for customers trying to patronize them since road work began.
Nick Brey, DOT project leader, explained at a bi-weekly construction meeting Tuesday that there are a “lot of utilities on Wells Street.” DOT and contractor Gerke Excavating leaders apologized for the short notice businesses received for the limited access and, at times, complete closure to motorists attempting to visit the businesses. They are working with the Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce and have rolled out a Facebook page to help alleviate similar issues from happening again during this construction project.
The Facebook page is called “Prairie du Chien Road Construction 2018.” Changes and updates will be posted there regularly in addition to information that’s funneled through the chamber and local media.
Brey encouraged anyone from the public who might have an issue or concern to simply post a picture or comment on the page and he will try to address those as soon as possible. He said individuals should “like” and “share” the page for more awareness.
Though access at the front of the above-mentioned businesses, off the graded roadway of Marquette, was available when back access off Wells was closed, according to Gerke Excavating, back access is where it’s going to stay until workers are done with pavement.
“I think it will help if we can push the ‘road closed’ signs on Wells back as far as possible from the (Dousman Street) intersection, so people don’t just see the signs and assume they don’t have access to those businesses,” Chamber CEO Bob Moses said at the meeting. “I think we can really learn from this phase, as we head into phases two and three.”
Phase one is still slated for completion by June 12. At that time, road closed signage on the north end of the project will move south down Marquette Road toward the phase two vicinity.
Remember, there are bi-weekly public meeting that take place every other Tuesday, at 3 p.m., at Prairie du Chien City Hall. The next one will be May 22. If you have questions or concerns regarding construction, please stop by the meeting so they can be discussed.
