Main Street (STH 96), Little Chute, Wisconsin

Main Street is an east/west connecting highway classified as an urban arterial serving the Village and surrounding communities carrying over 7800 vehicles per day, including 500 trucks per day, through a residential and commercial area. The existing roadway consisted of a 48’ clear width and narrow terraces constructed in 1957, had never been resurfaced, and was in poor condition.

The main purpose of the project was to replace the deteriorated pavement and undersized storm sewer system. The proposed improvement incorporated various sections from a 40’ clear width with 2 travel lanes, bike lanes, and on street parking on one side to a 46’ clear width with 2 travel lanes, a bike lane, and a TWLTL.

Reconstruction of this corridor required an extraordinary level of planning and construction effort to deliver and minimize the impacts to the 29 businesses and 110 residents within the project limits. The major items of work on the project consisted of 30,840 SY of removing concrete pavement 45,129 CY of excavation, 19,587 tons of base aggregate and 38,031 SY of 8-inch doweled concrete pavement. There was also over 65,000 square feet of concrete sidewalk, 5,161 SY of concrete driveways, 9,542 LF of storm sewer mainline, 4300 LF of storm sewer laterals, 102 sewer structures and 16,250 SY of lawn sod on the project. The corridor included 12 intersections and over 139 driveway openings. Aesthetic improvements included decorative sign posts, landscaping, and pedestrian rest areas which included colored concrete sidewalk, decorative benches, decorative concrete planters, and decorative concrete waste containers.

Construction began in May of 2013 and had a completion date of October 15th, 2013 which required the contractor to schedule and sequence concurrent controlling operations while meeting the requirement to maintain local vehicular and pedestrian access to the businesses within the construction zone while coordinating work operations around the various utility contractors performing work within the project limits. The project included a pilot program for utility coordination between the WisDOT and Public Service Gas Company to install gas services under the proposed roadway as work progressed. In conjunction with this project the Village also had two additional contracts to replace the sanitary sewer and water main, including laterals, within the project limits during the same calendar year. Utility coordination, coordination with local businesses and residents and coordination with the Village on concurrent projects all added to the complexity of this project. Vinton Construction is well known in Wisconsin for their excellent project coordination, and their extraordinary efforts on the Main street project was a key component of the project success.

Vinton Construction delivered a high quality concrete pavement with all materials meeting specification. The paving foreman was very thorough and paving crews were experienced, adequate in size and well trained in each specific task. Vinton’s personnel paid close attention to detail and performed high quality workmanship with all aspects of the paving operation. Overall the project was well designed and the construction personnel on site where seasoned and well organized which made for a smooth running project.

A true partnership was forged by WisDOT, McMAHON, Mead & Hunt, the Village of Little Chute and Vinton Construction. Every aspect of the project from conception to completion was carefully thought out, well executed, and a huge success. The Village of Little Chute has a revitalized corridor which will spur business redevelopment for many years to come thanks to the commitment of all parties involved and the use of concrete pavement.