The work is being completed by FA Industrial Services, Inc. of Iron River. The project includes installing about 2,820 feet of sanitary sewer and about 54 sewer laterals, road restoration and associated infrastructure from Pewabic Street and Fisher Lake Road. Work is expected to be completed before July 4.

In connection with the project, the Michigan Department of Transportation has established a U.S. 2 detour.

Eastbound U.S. 2 through traffic is being detoured at Crystal Falls via M-69 and M-95 to U.S. 2 in Iron Mountain. The detour is reversed for westbound traffic.

Outside of the closure areas, U.S. 2 remains open to local traffic and access to local businesses will be maintained.

The project is under the direction of Florence Utilities. Erik Lorenzen, water waste supervisor, believes the sewer main has never been replaced, but manhole work was completed in the 1980s.

“It’s clay tiles from way back,” he said.

Lorenzen said next year the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will replace the road. He explained that WisDOT likes to have the sewer work completed a year in advance in case there is some settling.

The sewer work is expected to cost about $850,000. Earlier this spring, the town of Florence authorized a loan from Great North Bank in Florence as interim financing for the project, with interest due at maturity after six months. It will be repaid with proceeds from a subsidized Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Clean Water Fund loan.

Road work in 2025 will address the signs of deterioration in the form of rutting and cracking. Proposed improvements in 2025 include removing and replacing 4 inches of asphalt pavement, replacing curb and gutter throughout the project, replacing curb ramps that do not meet current ADA standards and extending sidewalks.

Design work is expected to be completed in the fall with construction to start next spring.

Marguerite Lanthier can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 242, or mlanthier@ironmountaindailynews.com.