Have you been wondering about the large sand pile in Burr Jones Park?
Stockpiling sand for a vicious winter 2000-2001 projection? Scenic view
point/ski hill for topographically challenged portions of the isthmus? A
new beach on the Yahara River? Is that your final guess? Correct answer
.....The sand will be needed for construction backfill.
The City Public Works Department will soon begin the process of replacing
the older, undersized sewer lines with newer, larger, diameter pipes through
Burr Jones Park, under the Yahara River, and south along Thornton Ave to
Main Street. Additional work will be needed in the future to complete this
project from the Yahara River crossing to E. Johnson Street. Hopefully,
when both portions are completed the potential for sewer back-ups, as we
experienced in the spring,1996, will be substantially reduced.
This is a very worthy project, but it will cause some disruptions in the
neighborhood. This will be a difficult undertaking due to the depth and
size of the pipe, the river crossing and traffic considerations. The TLNA
council hopes the information in this article will minimize any upset to
your routines. Please consider the following:
1. Trucks and other construction equipment will be entering and leaving Burr
Jones Park and Thornton Ave during the construction phase (mid February
through mid-July).
2. Thornton Ave. north (from the railroad tracks to E. Wash) and south
(E.Wash to E. Main) will be closed to traffic during sewer construction.
3. Traffic along E. Wash will be reduced to two lanes each way during May
and early June. A portion of the meridian between First Street and
Dickinson Street will be replaced with pavement to maintain traffic flow in
the corridor.
Item 3 suggests traffic congestion on E. Wash (cutting six lanes down to
four) may result in additonal cut through traffic for two or three months.
Neighbors, both south and north of E.Wash, may experience higher traffic
volumes if commuters seek alternate traffic routes to avoid the E. Wash
construction zone. Customers for businesses in this area, such as 3G's,
Sparkle Auto and the Pet Clinic, may find it more difficult to get to and/or
park near these destinations.
The anticipated construction schedule is as follows:
Feb. 14 - March 10 : Sewer construction near the city garage.
March 11 - March 31: Sewer construction through Burr Jones park.
April 3 - April 14: Sewer Construction under the Yahara River.
April 17 - April 28: Sewer Construction along N. Thornton (E.Wash to the
railroad tracks).
May 1 - June 9: Sewer Construction at the E. Wash and N. Thornton
intersection.
June 12 - June 23: Sewer Construction at the E. Wash and S. Thornton
intersection down to S. Main.
June 26 - July 7: Pavement restoration on N. and S. Thornton.
July 10 - July 21: Topsoil and seed Burr Jones Park.
The schedules listed above are best estimates and may change depending on
weather, unexpected construction conditions or other unforseen events. If
you have specific questions for the TLNA Council about this project please
call Ed Jepsen for additional details.