Employees from Northeast Asphalt of Wisconsin work on a project to upgrade sidewalks, gutters and curbing on U.S. 2 in Florence, Wis. Once that work is completed, the road will be repaved. The project is expected to last to late September. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)

FLORENCE, Wis. — A $1.724 million project to update a section of U.S. 2 from Pewabic Street to County NN in Florence is expected to extend into the fall.

“The project is on schedule and will be done by the end of September, weather permitting,” said Stacy Hagenbucher, project manager, Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

The 1-mile project involves upgrading curb ramps to meet Americans With Disabilities Act standards. Primary contractor Northeast Asphalt of Wisconsin is doing sidewalks, gutters and curbing. That work is expected to be completed in August. Curbs are being constructed along US. 2 to County NN.

“The contract is moving along per schedule right now,” Hagenbucher said. “You can see they are working on the curb and gutter and sidewalks.”

After the gutters, curbing and sidewalks are complete, paving will be done on the road, with 4 inches of asphalt to alleviate deterioration in the road in the form of “alligator,” longitudinal and transverse cracking, according to WisDOT.

While some single-lane closures with flagging operations have been needed, U.S. 2 has remained open. There may be minor impacts to pedestrians on the sidewalks.

Access to adjacent properties and businesses will be maintained but brief, temporary interruptions in access may occur at driveways. Owners will be notified.

“We do have project staff on site every day, so they are out there and they have been talking to impacted businesses and homeowners regarding access and things like that,” she said.

Engineering plans for the project were completed in 2024. Once paving is completed, the Florence County Highway Department will finish the shoulders. Last year, the Town of Florence Utilities completed deep sanitary sewer work on that section of the road.

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Marguerite Lanthier can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 85242, or mlanthier@ironmountaindailynews.com.