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News

New south side plan unveiled

By GENE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
A proposed highway reconstruction plan for Church and Division streets between Dixon and Monroe streets was unveiled Tuesday, Jan. 16, during an open house.

The proposal for Stevens Point's busiest north-south thoroughfare eliminates the split at the south-side triangle and widens Church between Madison and Monroe streets to accept two-way traffic.

Traffic signals would also be installed at the midway point of the project, where Church and Division intersect with Park and Madison streets, and the one-way streets of Church and Strongs Avenue would switch directions.

The proposal was designed by Becher-Hoppe Associates of Wausau for the state Department of Transportation.

At the signals, northbound vehicles heading toward the downtown area, would turn left onto Park for one block and then turn right onto Strongs. Vehicles exiting the downtown area to the south would use Church, where they could only make a right turn at the Church-Division junction to continue south.

At Dixon, westbound motorists would only be able to make a right turn. To go south, they would have to take Wyatt Avenue to either Madison or Monroe to make a left turn onto Church.

With the route moved off Division south of Park, that area would be turned into parking space, and the western section of Monroe would become a cul de sac, with an additional parking area. A total of 75 stalls would be added during the project, according to the proposal.

The project calls for the removal of one business, Poor Boy's Auto at the northwest corner of Monroe and Church. That business moved there when Truck Shop USA relocated to Hoover Avenue last year.

A portion of the parking area in the rear of Archie's, 2317 Division St., would also be acquired to widen Church from 44 feet to 55 feet to provide a left-turn lane onto Park.

The entrance from Church as it intersects with Division would also be changed to make it a right angle. Part of the old roadbed area would be utilized for access from the redesign thoroughfare into an existing municipal parking lot in that area.

While Tuesday's session allowed people an opportunity to review the proposal and offer comments, there are still forums available for the public to voice their input.

Persons wishing to comment on the proposal can mail their comments to Becher-Hoppe Associates Inc., Attn. Kevin Lang, PO Box 8000, Wausau, WI 54402-8000.

John Gardner, Stevens Point community development director, said representatives of Becher-Hoppe will take into account the information gathered from the session, as well as written comments.

Any changes will be presented again, either in public hearings or at public meetings to allow for inspection of the proposal, he said.

No construction date has been set yet, but it wouldn't be before 2004.



	New south side plan unveiled By GENE KEMMETER of The Gazette A proposed highway reconstruction plan for Church and Division streets between Dixon and Monroe streets was unveiled Tuesday, Jan. 16, during an open house. The proposal for Stevens Point's busiest north-south thoroughfare eliminates the split at the south-side triangle and widens Church between Madison and Monroe streets to accept two-way traffic. Traffic signals would also be installed at the midway point of the project, where Church and Division intersect with Park and Madison streets, and the one-way streets of Church and Strongs Avenue would switch directions. The proposal was designed by Becher-Hoppe Associates of Wausau for the state Department of Transportation. At the signals, northbound vehicles heading toward the downtown area, would turn left onto Park for one block and then turn right onto Strongs. Vehicles exiting the downtown area to the south would use Church, where they could only make a right turn at the Church-Division junction to continue south. At Dixon, westbound motorists would only be able to make a right turn. To go south, they would have to take Wyatt Avenue to either Madison or Monroe to make a left turn onto Church. With the route moved off Division south of Park, that area would be turned into parking space, and the western section of Monroe would become a cul de sac, with an additional parking area. A total of 75 stalls would be added during the project, according to the proposal. The project calls for the removal of one business, Poor Boy's Auto at the northwest corner of Monroe and Church. That business moved there when Truck Shop USA relocated to Hoover Avenue last year. A portion of the parking area in the rear of Archie's, 2317 Division St., would also be acquired to widen Church from 44 feet to 55 feet to provide a left-turn lane onto Park. The entrance from Church as it intersects with Division would also be changed to make it a right angle. Part of the old roadbed area would be utilized for access from the redesign thoroughfare into an existing municipal parking lot in that area. While Tuesday's session allowed people an opportunity to review the proposal and offer comments, there are still forums available for the public to voice their input. Persons wishing to comment on the proposal can mail their comments to Becher-Hoppe Associates Inc., Attn. Kevin Lang, PO Box 8000, Wausau, WI 54402-8000. John Gardner, Stevens Point community development director, said representatives of Becher-Hoppe will take into account the information gathered from the session, as well as written comments. Any changes will be presented again, either in public hearings or at public meetings to allow for inspection of the proposal, he said. No construction date has been set yet, but it wouldn't be before 2004.