Location
The project is located along approximately 1-mile of WIS 52 between North 6th Street and North 18th Street in the city of Wausau and town of Wausau in Marathon County. WIS 52 is also known as East Wausau Avenue in the project area.
Project Overview
The roadway is currently exhibiting signs of severe deterioration in the form of cracking in the asphalt and concrete pavement.
There are other needs that have been identified throughout the project area:
- Deteriorated curb and gutter and drainage inlets.
- Outdated traffic signal equipment at the North 6th Street intersection.
- Poor accommodations for pedestrians through the North 6th Street intersection due to lack of adequate curb ramps and no pedestrian push buttons on the traffic signals.
- Existing curb ramps do not meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards throughout the project.
- There are no pedestrian facilities along the north side of WIS 52from North 13th Street to North 18th Street.
- City municipal facilities (sewer and water) are deteriorating and outdated.
- There is lack of continuous standard street lighting along this urban route.
Traffic Impacts
WIS 52 traffic will be detoured to through traffic. The detour route is to be determined but WIS 52 will remain open to local and emergency traffic. Local staging requirements will be determined during the design process and coordination will occur with postmaster, garbage and bus services.
Real Estate
Additional right of way will be required for this project. Temporary limited easements (TLEs) will be necessary at most of the curb ramp and sidewalk locations to accommodate construction of the sidewalks/curb ramps. TLEs will be needed to allow for minor grading to blend slopes and match the work into existing yards. TLEs may also be acquired to allow room for temporary pedestrian accommodations during construction. A smaller number of locations will require some minor fee title acquisition. In these areas it may be necessary to place new sidewalk outside the existing right of way.
Schedule
- Local Officials Meeting: April 16, 2025
- Public Involvement Meeting: May 14, 2025
- Environmental Document: February 2026
- Final Plans: May 2028
- Construction currently scheduled for 2029
Public Involvement
A public involvement meeting was held. The following information was presented: