Hurley looks to do work ahead of an expected 2023 Highway project.

HURLEY – The Hurley City Council on Wednesday approved a recommendation from the public works department to inform the Wisconsin Department of Transportation that the city intends to conduct preliminary work ahead of a planned highway reconstruction.  Jeff Seamandel, a project manager with MSA, the city’s engineering consulting firm, said WDOT is planning a U.S. 51 reconstruction project in 2023 that will include the 2nd Avenue section through Hurley. If Hurley would conduct a utility replacement prior to the project on U.S. 51, between Iron Street and Florian Street, then WDOT would push its project to 2026.  The additional time would allow the city to apply for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding through the Department of Administration. The utilities replacement project cost is estimated at $2,6 million dollars.  The downside is that the WDOT must keep its schedule either 2023 or 2026 which might mean that the city would need to pave the section only to have the WDOT tear it up for complete resurfacing in a subsequent year. If the city does not conduct the utilities work the WDOT will back charge the city for any repairs it finds necessary.  There is no guarantee that the funding will be available but the WDOT was encouraging that the project is necessary for the highway project.  The council approved the letter of intent to the WDOT by a 4-0 margin