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Amherst Highway 10 project begins this fall

By GENE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
Work on the Highway 10 bypass of Amherst and Amherst Junction will begin in October, cutting south of the two villages through an agricultural area.

From the east, the bypass will leave the present highway just east of County Trunk A and head southwest, turning westward and crossing County Trunk Q just south of Packer Avenue. The bypass then heads north to link up with the existing 10 route at Lake Road.

Interchanges will be constructed at County Trunk A and at County Trunk B, west of Amherst. Those will be the only two access points to local roads along the bypass route in that area.

The bypass will make access more difficult to Lake Emily County Park and result in a new route for Highway 161, which currently connects with 10 north of Amherst Junction.

Officials from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation explained improvements along the route during a session Tuesday, Aug. 20, in the Amherst Town Hall in Amherst Junction.

Lynn Saeger, project engineer, said most of the right-of-way for the route has already been purchased and work on clearing and grubbing the area will begin in the fall, with that phase scheduled for completion in January.

Work on grading, the base, the surface and structures are scheduled to begin in August 2003 and the project will be completed in November 2004.
The bypass will connect with the section of 10 now in the clearing and grubbing stage between the Portage-Waupaca county line and County Trunk A. That section is scheduled for completion in November 2003.

Saeger said a temporary road for Highway 10 will be constructed around Lake Road during the construction phase to allow traffic to continue to use Highway 10. However, she said, Lake Road will be closed at that point during the construction phase.

During the construction, motorists will have some traffic congestion at Lake Road and County Trunk A.

The bypass is scheduled to connect with the existing route of Highway 10 east of Amherst Junction, but Saeger said she's uncertain of the route west of that point. Initially, plans called for the new bypass to follow the existing route to County Trunk J, but recent discussions indicated a route along County Trunk HH to the south has more support.

"I want to reassure everyone the project is going forward," Saeger said about the Amherst bypass. "I don't think anything has changed except for some minor details.

The bypass will result in the construction of 16 bridges (or eight sets of bridges), all on 10, as it crosses local roads and the Tomorrow River. The bridges add to the cost of the project, with Saeger saying they usually cost $400,000 to $500,000 each.

Two of the bridges (for each lane of traffic) cross County Trunk A, then four cross the Tomorrow River east of A (two are for 10 traffic and the other two are for the entrance and exit ramps at the A interchange).

The other bridges cross County Trunk Q, County Trunk B, Lake Emily Road and the adjacent Tomorrow River Trail and the Canadian National Railroad tracks.

Acquisition of property has left some parcels landlocked. "We can't condemn property to provide access," Saeger said. "The owner has the option for the DOT to buy the property or receive severance damages to pay for the property."

Residents of the area expressed concerns about noise from the highway, and Saeger said the state doesn't have any noise barriers in the project. She said the surface of the highway will be the quietest that studies have found.

Saeger said the state also doesn't plan to plant any trees along the route, but residents can request the trees. She asked residents to include a request for trees on the comment form they submit to the DOT office.

Some residents said they were disappointed the state isn't widening the existing route instead of moving the road about a mile west in the Amherst area.

Saeger said the decision to move to the west came after meetings in 1998. Improving the County Trunk B intersection alone would have wiped out all the businesses there, including Amherst Foods, she said.

Using County Trunk B at the route to go west would have also resulted in environmental protection difficulties, she said.

As far as Highway 161, she said a new route for that highway has been selected. The last discussions she heard, she said, indicated that County Trunk SS and Loberg Road would be the likely route, adding that rerouting probably won't be done until 2006.

Persons who were unable to attend the meeting can submit their comments to Lynn Saeger at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, District 4, 1681 Second Ave. South, Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494 or (715) 421-8391.



	Amherst Highway 10 project begins this fall By GENE KEMMETER of The Gazette Work on the Highway 10 bypass of Amherst and Amherst Junction will begin in October, cutting south of the two villages through an agricultural area. From the east, the bypass will leave the present highway just east of County Trunk A and head southwest, turning westward and crossing County Trunk Q just south of Packer Avenue. The bypass then heads north to link up with the existing 10 route at Lake Road. Interchanges will be constructed at County Trunk A and at County Trunk B, west of Amherst. Those will be the only two access points to local roads along the bypass route in that area. The bypass will make access more difficult to Lake Emily County Park and result in a new route for Highway 161, which currently connects with 10 north of Amherst Junction. Officials from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation explained improvements along the route during a session Tuesday, Aug. 20, in the Amherst Town Hall in Amherst Junction. Lynn Saeger, project engineer, said most of the right-of-way for the route has already been purchased and work on clearing and grubbing the area will begin in the fall, with that phase scheduled for completion in January. Work on grading, the base, the surface and structures are scheduled to begin in August 2003 and the project will be completed in November 2004. The bypass will connect with the section of 10 now in the clearing and grubbing stage between the Portage-Waupaca county line and County Trunk A. That section is scheduled for completion in November 2003. Saeger said a temporary road for Highway 10 will be constructed around Lake Road during the construction phase to allow traffic to continue to use Highway 10. However, she said, Lake Road will be closed at that point during the construction phase. During the construction, motorists will have some traffic congestion at Lake Road and County Trunk A. The bypass is scheduled to connect with the existing route of Highway 10 east of Amherst Junction, but Saeger said she's uncertain of the route west of that point. Initially, plans called for the new bypass to follow the existing route to County Trunk J, but recent discussions indicated a route along County Trunk HH to the south has more support. "I want to reassure everyone the project is going forward," Saeger said about the Amherst bypass. "I don't think anything has changed except for some minor details. The bypass will result in the construction of 16 bridges (or eight sets of bridges), all on 10, as it crosses local roads and the Tomorrow River. The bridges add to the cost of the project, with Saeger saying they usually cost $400,000 to $500,000 each. Two of the bridges (for each lane of traffic) cross County Trunk A, then four cross the Tomorrow River east of A (two are for 10 traffic and the other two are for the entrance and exit ramps at the A interchange). The other bridges cross County Trunk Q, County Trunk B, Lake Emily Road and the adjacent Tomorrow River Trail and the Canadian National Railroad tracks. Acquisition of property has left some parcels landlocked. "We can't condemn property to provide access," Saeger said. "The owner has the option for the DOT to buy the property or receive severance damages to pay for the property." Residents of the area expressed concerns about noise from the highway, and Saeger said the state doesn't have any noise barriers in the project. She said the surface of the highway will be the quietest that studies have found. Saeger said the state also doesn't plan to plant any trees along the route, but residents can request the trees. She asked residents to include a request for trees on the comment form they submit to the DOT office. Some residents said they were disappointed the state isn't widening the existing route instead of moving the road about a mile west in the Amherst area. Saeger said the decision to move to the west came after meetings in 1998. Improving the County Trunk B intersection alone would have wiped out all the businesses there, including Amherst Foods, she said. Using County Trunk B at the route to go west would have also resulted in environmental protection difficulties, she said. As far as Highway 161, she said a new route for that highway has been selected. The last discussions she heard, she said, indicated that County Trunk SS and Loberg Road would be the likely route, adding that rerouting probably won't be done until 2006. Persons who were unable to attend the meeting can submit their comments to Lynn Saeger at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, District 4, 1681 Second Ave. South, Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494 or (715) 421-8391.