Work To Resume May 2 On Business Hwy 151 Safety Improvement Project - Beginning In Area Of Business 151 And Water Street Intersection

*UPDATE: The contractor has delayed work on Business 151 until Wednesday, May 4. Traffic signals at Business 151 and Water will not be turned off until then.

McGuire, Inc, with DOT and the City of Platteville held a Business Hwy 151 Safety Improvement Project Public Information meeting at the Chamber of Commerce at 275 West Business 151 at 10 AM on April 27, 2022. 

General Scope of work:  Starting Monday, May 2, 2022, the signals at the intersection at Water Street (State Highways 80/81) and Business 151 will be turned off and the intersection will function as an “All-way” Stopfor the next 4 – 6 weeks.  Work will commence in the Southeast corner by Dunkin. This right turn lane (northbound to eastbound) will be closed for most of the duration of the work.  Once this work is progressing, the contractor will close the right turn lane (eastbound to southbound) in the Southwest corner by the vacant lot.  Once the underground electrical work is complete on the SW and SE corners, they will go to the Northeast and Northwest corners and Islands.  These right turn lanes will not be closed, but they will narrow the lanes as needed during the daytime to construct the pedestrian sidewalks and signal relocates in the islands and corners.

Concurrently, there will be additional crews that will work on the trail starting at the NAPA/NOVUS driveway and working their way east.  This process is weather dependent and could be complete in as little as 4 weeks. 

Timeline:
April 28:  Road work signs and LED message board signs are installed.  Message Boards to warn traffic that the intersection of Water Street (State Highways 80/81) and Business 151 will be turned off and the intersection to be an “All-way” Stop beginning May 2, 2022.

May 2:  Work begins at the Bus 151 and STH 80/81 intersection.  Traffic control devices (drums and cones) will be installed and signals will be powered off and the intersection will function as an “All-way” Stop.  Right-turn lane in Southeast quadrant closed and removals will begin.  Crews will also resume work on the trail starting at the NAPA/NOVUS driveway.

Note:  While the work at the intersection is being done, right-turns for tractor trailer trucks will be nearly impossible for:

• Eastbound Bus 151 to Southbound STH 80/81 and
• Northbound STH 80/81 to Eastbound Bus 151                         

May 2 – mid June:  Work continues in different quadrants of the intersection.  Work continues on the trail from NAPA/NOVUS to Eastside Road.  Work continues on sidewalk along the Walgreen’s frontage.  Work to continue to connect the Rountree Branch Trail to the signal intersection for pedestrian crossings.
 

Click here to view the Business Hwy 151: Highway Safety Improvement Program project page.

Public Information Meeting Attendees:  Howard Crofoot, City of Platteville;  John Gantenbein, Buesing & Associates – representing DOT; Kevin Schaub, Buesing & Associates; Tim McGuire, McGuire, Inc. (contractor); Wayne Wodarz, Chamber of Commerce; Terry Hall, citizen; Zach Mitchell, Manager at Walgreen’s; Steve Prestegard, Platteville Journal; Tim Boldt, Pioneer Ford (arriving later)