Project History

R.A. Smith National, Inc. has been hired by the Waukesha County Department of Public Works to provide construction management services for the reconstruction of CTH ‘Y’ (Racine Avenue) from West Julius Heil Drive on the south end of the project to West Pinewood Drive on the north end of the project. The project will involve the total reconstruction of Racine Avenue from its present configuration as a two-lane road to a four-lane roadway.  The intersection of Racine Avenue and CTH ‘ES’ (National Avenue)  will be realigned with the installation of a bridge on National Avenue over Racine Avenue.  A new roadway to connect Racine Avenue and National Avenue will be built approximately 500 feet north of the current intersection.

Work on the project began in December 2008 with relocation of the electric, gas, telephone and cable television utilities on the job site.

The road reconstruction will be done by Edgerton Contractors, Inc. They are anticipating road reconstruction will begin on March 30, 2009 (weather permitting).

On March 30, Racine Avenue (from West Julius Heil Drive to West Pinewood Drive) will be closed to all but local traffic.  Local traffic means only the families and businesses located on Racine Avenue (between West Julius Heil Drive and West Pinewood Drive) and those located in the subdivisions adjacent to Racine Avenue in the construction zone will be allowed access on Racine Avenue.   

National Avenue will be closed to all traffic (from Barton Road to a point approximately 500 feet east of the current intersection of Racine Avenue and National Avenue) on March 30 to allow for construction of the bridge and connector road.

Construction of the bridge, connector road and Racine Avenue from National Avenue to West Pinewood Drive is anticipated to be completed in late August (weather permitting). Upon completion of this work, National Avenue and Racine Avenue (north of National Avenue) will be reopened to traffic.  It is anticipated that the remainder of Racine Avenue will be reopened to traffic in late November.

In order to assist in planning for this project, a link to the detour route for the project is attached for your use. (or the DOT Detour)

This Web site will be updated on a regular basis with general information concerning the project as construction proceeds. Should you have specific questions concerning the project and how it affects you, please contact the construction project manager, Mr. Mike Mentzel of R.A. Smith National, Inc. Mr. Mentzel can be reached either by e-mail at mike.mentzel@rasmithnational.com or by phone at 262-317-3338.  Once construction of the project has started, a construction field office will be established and that contact information will be provided at this Web site.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding as this project progresses.

UPDATES

April 26, 2010

The placement of the final layer of asphalt on the Racine Ave. and National Ave. reconstruction project is tentatively scheduled to begin during the week of May 3, 2010 (weather permitting).
 
In addition to the placement of the final layer of asphalt on Racine Ave. and National Ave.,  paving work will be done on the section of Racine Ave. from Pinewood Drive (the north end of the project) to a point approximately 400 feet north of CTH I.

Because the roadway from Pinewood to CTH I is going to be repaved by pulverizing the existing roadway, it will be necessary to detour through traffic on Racine Ave. for several days while this work is being completed. Traffic on southbound Racine Ave. will be detoured to the east at CTH I where they will proceed to National Ave. and then be routed to the west back to Racine Ave.  Northbound traffic on Racine Ave. will be detoured to National Ave. at the newly installed connector road, be routed to the east to CTH I and then directed back to Racine Ave. It is anticipated that the detour will be in place for approximately five days.  

Once the work from Pinewood to CTH I is completed, the paving on Racine Ave. and National Ave. will occur.  Please watch for changing traffic patterns as all traffic on Racine Ave. will be placed on the two northbound lanes when the southbound lanes are being paved and then be switched to the southbound lanes when the northbound lanes are being paved.  The paving of National Ave. will be completed with the use of flag persons, so please be alert.

If you have any questions or comments concerning this work, please feel free to contact the construction project manager, Mr. Mike Mentzel of R.A. Smith National, Inc. at 262-317-3338.  Please note that this is a different telephone number than during the initial construction in 2009.

Mr. Mentzel can be reached either by e-mail at mike.mentzel@rasmithnational.com or at the construction field office at 262-682-4476. If you are looking for information on the State project at I-43 and Racine, please go to that project's Web site at www.dot.wisconsin.gov/projects/i43countyy/index.htm.

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