City of Columbus, WI
Project Description
In August 2015, the City, in an effort to stimulate commercial and manufacturing growth, created Tax Incremental Financing District (TIF) #4. This District is located 1 mile from the STH 151 and STH 16/60 interchange making it a desirable location due to the transportation corridor on STH 16. Increasing the transportation infrastructure in the TIF proved to be crucial to attracting employers. In 2017, Drexel Building Supply began constructing a showroom and lumberyard on the condition that the existing Hall Road would be extended eastward to Columbus-Fall River Road.
R/M worked with the City to apply for the Transportation Economic Assistance and Development program grant (TEA Grant) to help fund the extension of Hall Road. The City was awarded a grant in the amount of $185,000, which covered one-third of the construction cost.
The project included the extension of Hall Road, consisting of approximately 1,000 linear feet of urban section. Additional work included permitting intersection access to STH 16 with improvements at the Hall Road/STH 16 intersection. The resulting 4-way intersection now features north and southbound left turn lanes and a dedicated right turn lane on to the proposed Hall Road. The intersection improvement required approximately 2,100 feet of shoulder work on the east side of STH 16 for the proposed bypass and turn/merge lanes. The complete project included over 1,800 tons of asphaltic concrete, culvert installation, ditching, pavement marking, curb and gutter, and restoration.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
R/M worked closely with the City, Drexel Building Supply, and WisDOT to prepare the grant application which also included an environmental assessment and report, traffic control plan, and design study report. Hall Road provides frontage access to Drexel Building Supply to the south and Fromm Family Foods to the north.
R/M worked closely with both businesses to ensure the road would accommodate current and future improvements such as a railroad spur design and planning. R/M collaborated with Drexel and their engineer to address storm water requirements for the new roadway improvements in a single wet pond located on Drexel’s site.