Hwy P interchange to open by Thanksgiving
Commuters will have something to be thankful for this week as the Highway P/I-94 construction will be complete on Wednesday, Nov. 23.
All ramps, I-94, Highway P and Highway DR traffic will be open and back in their respective lanes by Nov. 23, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT).
The $11.8 million project consisted of reconstructing the existing half-diamond interchange to a full diamond, and the construction of new bridges and retaining walls on I-94. Highway P was expanded to a four-lane urban section at the interchange. Highway DR frontage roads were relocated, and four roundabouts were constructed. The expanded interchange is expected to provide a better connection with Pabst Farms.
The interchange has been under construction since March will a goal of completion by Thanksgiving.
Short-term lane closures and flagging operations on the ramps for Highway P and Highway DR may occur during nonpeak hours until mid-December.
So far, the DOT reports the project is over budget by $900,000. The DOT did not give information behind why the project was nearly $1 million over budget by press time.
"(Construction on) Highway P has been on the books for many years," said Thad Nation, spokesman for the Pabst Farms development, just west of the newly constructed interchange. "Construction of the interchange has been critical for the growth, not only to Pabst Farms, but for the entire area."
He added that the updates were needed to keep up with the growth of the area, and that the creation of exit and entrance ramps heading in both directions will continue to serve that growth, especially with the addition of the Aurora Medical Center in Summit.
"I think people are excited to finally have a four-way interchange," Nation said. "We're happy it's opening."
"It's been a long haul," Jeff Stoll, owner of Stolley's Hog Alley on Highway DR said of the eight months of road construction in front of his business. He said it was a challenge to stay optimistic during the road closure, but the final outcome will be nice.
"I think it's going to be better in the long run for everybody," Stoll said of his business and others. He said he tried to keep an open mind during the project which he acknowledged was "a huge undertaking."
Stoll said he spent extra money to advertise detour routes and offer specials to attract business, but now he can offer "road open specials."
"I think God it wasn't any worse or any longer. I'm just praying that it picks back up and we can keep going," Stoll said. He said overall the business had a good summer drawing patrons for fish fries, but there were others days that were skinnier that did take their toll on the till.
Village of Summit Administrator Henry Elling said the newly designed interchange will give fire and police easier coverage in the area, and will allow motorists to easily enter and exit I-94 both east and west.
Elling added that that primarily, residents rather than businesses have been impacted by the construction.
"We're certainly happy it's going to be reopening," Elling said on behalf of the village.
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