11-2-13 rr underpass ribbon cutting and monument dedication letter from county exec

We are pleased to announce that the Fond du Lac Pioneer Road project is ready to open to the public. You are invited to take part in the ribbon cutting ceremony and monument dedication on November 12, 2013 at 1:30 pm (invitation attached).  

 

The Pioneer Road project first began in 1998 with an engineering study, and from the beginning has been a cooperative effort between the Federal Government, Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Fond du Lac County and the City of Fond du Lac. We must not forget CN Railroad and the businesses that have been affected by almost three years of construction. The first phase of the project started by replacing the river crossing bridge just west of Main Street and included a new storm sewer that ultimately drains the underpass. The Pioneer Road Underpass project consisted of constructing grade separation from the existing CN railroad line and Pioneer Road in the form of an underpass where the highway goes under a newly constructed railroad bridge. Both intersections of Morris Street and Hickory Street were reconstructed with two new roundabouts. A multiuse bike and pedestrian trail was also part of the reconstruction project which ties into the County’s Wild Goose State Trail.

The cost of the project is approximately $15 million with a $6 million grant from the Federal Government (thank you to Senator Kohl and Congressman Petri), $7 million being shared between Fond du Lac County and the City of Fond du Lac, and the balance funded by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation various funding programs as well as a contribution from CN Railroad. The new underpass will eliminate the congestion on Pioneer Road from when the intersection was blocked by trains crossing. As a result, it will provide for easier and safer travel around the south edge of Fond du Lac to better serve the businesses on that corridor, as well as the motoring public and emergency response.

Ten years ago, Fond du Lac County had one of its Highway Department employees killed in a work zone on US 41. Through a generous donation from Michels Corporation’s Granite Stone Division, a monument is being dedicated to that employee, Dennis Roeseler, who was assigned to CTH VV Pioneer Road, as well as to all Highway workers who have been killed while working within a work zone on our transportation system.

Please come and join us.

Respectfully,
Allen Buechel County Executive