Motorists drive through the intersection of Center Avenue and Joliet Street in Janesville Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. A "Road Closed to Thru Traffic" sign remains along the stretch just a block away, where the route is still closed completely to traffic as construction continues. The Wisconsin DOT says construction is on schedule and expects work to wrap up by mid-November.
Motorists drive through the intersection of Center Avenue and Joliet Street in Janesville Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. A "Road Closed to Thru Traffic" sign remains along the stretch just a block away, where the route is still closed completely to traffic as construction continues. The Wisconsin DOT says construction is on schedule and expects work to wrap up by mid-November.
RYAN SPOEHR/RYAN.SPOEHR@APG-SW.COM
JANESVILLE — The Wisconsin Department of Transportation says the 2024 portion of the Center Avenue construction project in Janesville is on track to be finished on Nov. 15, its target date.
In the first year of construction, most of Center Avenue has been worked on between Nicolet and Court streets. The entire stretch has been closed since March. The project’s scope this year has included:
Updating traffic signals
Updating curb ramps to meet American Disability Act requirements
Maintaining the Rock River bridge
Repairing two railroad bridges
Replacing city-funded sanitary sewer and water mains
Replacing impacted storm sewer
Updating the pavement markings
Hannah Punzel, communications manager for the Wisconsin DOT’s southwest region, said Thursday that the project is in its final stretch.
In the past week, work on the deck overlay was finished on the Rock River bridge. A median curb from the pavement to the bridge deck will be replaced. The final weeks will focus on landscaping, installation of electrical items, signage installed, asphalt paved and markings made on the pavement.
Work on the road is weather dependent.
“Weather dependent is mainly rain. There are temperature requirements for some materials and pavement marking items as well. We hope we do not have to worry about snow,” Punzel said.
Punzel did not specify the temperature requirements.
In 2025, the DOT is eyeing to complete the rest of the Center Avenue construction project, which will consist of a section of Center Avenue between the Union Pacific Railroad bridge to the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad bridge, as well as the Five Points intersection just west of the city’s downtown.
The Five Points is where Center Avenue intersects with Milwaukee, Court and Centerway streets.
Sign up for our Daily Update & Weekend Update email newsletters!
Get the latest news, sports, weather and more delivered right to your inbox.
