Port Washington Construction Update 8/25/11

Hello Everyone,

Casey, Field Supervisor for the Port Washington Avenue project sent the following updates.

The current activities will include pavement removals (as of this afternoon most of this item is complete), inlet adjustments, placing the gravel base, setting up the stringline and trimming the gravel.

As Wednesdays at 10 AM  have been set aside for us to send at least two to three representatives to a meeting designed especially to address residential concerns, we are asking that you call your block club president or email groverheights@gmail.com with any questions or concerns about the project so that we can have them addressed during the allotted 15 minute time period.


The strange odor should have dissipated by now, but the company is currently investigating and will contact us if there are additional measures that need addressing.  If you are still having concerns please email your specific address and we will have the company investigate.


In addition to this, Ms. Cecilia Gilbert has been serving as a liaison for businesses and residents at the company's request.  She also stays in contact with both entities to address residential concerns that may arise as the project progresses.  Thanks to Casey and Musa for arranging this.

GHNBC

Block Party Thank You

We would like to thank everyone who made our first annual combined block party with Grover Heights and Williamsburg Triangle Block Clubs possible.  Over 70 residents enjoyed food, music, games, prizes, and each other's company. 

We thank our sponsors Bentley Packaging, Port Super Market, Davis and Son Meat Market, Northwest Side Community Development Corp and Gracelyn Wilson, Harley Davidson, Westside Missionary Baptist Church and the block planning party committee (Rick, Carolyn, Churchill, Andrea, Derrick,Betty, Carolyn, Juantzceal, Diane, James G., and James S.) for making this possible.

Grover Heights and Williamsburg Triangle exist to network with our government representatives (Ald. Coggs, Rep. Coggs, Supervisor Johnson, Sen. Taylor, and Congresswoman Moore) and various departments, neighbors, friends, schools, and businesses to build a high strong and safe community that possesses a high quality of life.

The party is a way to unite and keep the community strong.  We would also like to thank Tracey Dent from Peace for Change Alliance in leading our silent vigil for the victims and their families of the Sikh community which extends and is a part of Grover Heights and Williamsburg Triangle community.

Thanks for your attendance and participation.

Port Washington Road 8/11/12

All,

Upcoming project activities includes shifting work from Stage I to Stage II.  On Saturday the contractor will have a street sweeper out to clean the new pavement in preparation for switching traffic.  Between Sunday night and Monday early morning the barricades and drums will be moved to the West side of the roadway.  There will be no Northbound traffic allowed between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. and Olive street.  Please note that there will be no access to North Port Washington Rd. from Olive St. during this stage.  There will be one Southbound travel lane available between the north project limits (by Home Depot) and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.  Once we have the traffic control switched the contractor will begin saw cutting the pavements and then start breaking and removing the roadway.

With the cleaning and traffic switch this weekend please do not park vehicles within the work zone so we can finish the first stage safely and quickly.

Thank You,

Casey Wierzchowski, P.E.
Senior Project Engineer
expUS Services Inc.

Port Washington Road Update 8/3/12

All,

Today we finished the major paving of the roadway between Capitol Dr. and the north project limits.  The rest of this week and next week we will continue to work on finishing the intersections, Capitol Dr. ramps, sidewalks, including the pedestrian ramps and carriage walks, placement of topsoil and sod, milling and placing asphalt paving and the numerous incidental items which are associated with the project.  There will be quite a bit of activity in the coming week as we get closer to completing stage I and beginning Stage II.

The roadway may start looking like it is complete. Please do not walk on these surfaces. If you see others getting ready to cross or walk on them, please assist in guiding them to walk around as this will damage the new concrete and asphalt and possibly delay the project.  Please watch for caution tape or other detour signs and encourage others to follow these.  Also, please note that the bus stops may change within the next week.  You may want to leave a few minutes early to make sure that you make the bus on time. 

 However we still have quite a bit of work to complete.

Sincerely,

Casey Wierzchowski, P.E.
Senior Project Engineer
expUS Services Inc.

Port Washington update 7/27/12

All,

Upcoming activities will include:

Grading and placing concrete sidewalk between Keefe and Capitol Drive.  Milling asphalt at the intersecting streets (Vienna, Abert, Melvina and Capitol) the milling operations will be followed by placing asphalt surface between the existing roadways and the new concrete on Pt. Washington Rd.
Please do not walk on these surfaces.  If you see others getting ready to cross or walk on them, please assist in guiding them to walk around as this will damage the new concrete and asphalt and possibly delay the project.
The contractor will continue to trim and place gravel north of Capitol Drive  in preparation for placing concrete roadway between Capitol Drive and the north project limits.

There will be some shifting of traffic at the Capitol Drive ramps as we tie in the new roadway with the bridge.  There may be some short delays as we stage equipment and receive materials.  However, thru traffic at the ramps will be maintained.

The roadway is starting to come together but we still have quite a few tasks to complete before we switch to the second stage.

Casey Wierzchowski, P.E.
Senior Project Engineer
expUS Services Inc.

July 2012 Block Club minutes

Please find attached the minutes for the Grover Heights and Williamsburg Triangle meeting for July 18, 2012.  There were 32 attendants, 5 call-ins, one email, and several concerns spoken to presidents in person as they could not attend the meeting.   The other notation is for the groups that  met with WE energies, ATT, Asplungh and made reports to the groups.  There is another group that meets with the Port Washington Construction Supervisors and those updates are sent weekly from the field supervisor Casey himself. 

MPD
Reported that crime has increased in both areas.  There has been additional burglary attempts, vehicle thefts and abandonments, and some shots fired in the air.  Several hot spots were reported.  Residents believe that the increase may be due to traffic and those who have now find additional hiding spots.

For example, vagrancy and transient activity has increased in both areas.  New hot spots are being created as people are being prevented from crossing at certain places which results in increases of activity in these areas.  Residents are asked to call in any activity or email so that it can be reported anonymously.  There is still a concern about speeding and having a speed box or officer sit and ticket on streets where cars are driving exceptionally fast instead of just on Capitol.  One resident reported to the officer that he was told, "There is no speeding sign posted on either King, 7th, or 6th so he can drive as fast as he wants."

Residents again requested additional police patrol for the area during weekends. 

Neighborhood Concerns
Residents on 7th street in GH reported tree falling in the yard of an abandoned home and being unable to reach the owner or the realtor who manages the property to handle the situation.  Fire department was called and WE energies did what they could to have some safety standard.  The gate was nailed shut to prevent people from entering.  No one has been able to find realtor or owner.

Residents would also like to know the number of vacant and abandoned homes in the Williamsburg Triangle area.

Alleyways and streets were reported for needing filling.  In addition, sidewalks raised by tree roots were also reported to Mr. Boyd of street maintenance.  Some of those have been taken care of.  Yet the alleys of 8th in the 4000 block the alley behind 4100 block of  N.7th and several sidewalk areas need maintaining on both 6th streeets as they are raised by tree roots.
Some of these areas are still in need of repairs. We will schedule another meeting with Mr. Boyd.


There is a tree concern around in the 3800 block of  6th  street.  We are concerned whether or not the aphids and sap that runs, as it eats the car paint and kills the grass around it, poses a health risk to the individuals around.  Forestry visited but could not answer the health risk.  Residents are concerned about the tree remaining in place.

Many residents off of Port Washington are concerned that they are not informed about the Port Washington Construction.  The company was asked to recreate the letter with timelines so that it could be redistributed keeping everyone informed as more than one street is affected.  Company stated it is policy to deliver on Port Washington only; however, surrounding areas are affected as well as businesses.  Some of the businesses are worried that they will have to close as construction is to last until Oct.  Some are concerned about the great loss of money and wonder if theere are business grants to help recover some of the losses.

 As a result, the company has allowed for some of the members to attend a public meeting to hear of the construction and ask questions.  A business liaison has also been put in place so that questions may be streamlined at the one hour meeting.  The meetings are open to the public but we ask that no more than four or five individuals attend so that the engineering piece of the discussion can be completed during the allotted meeting time.

Residents and business owners alike have noticed that the curbs and the street on Fiebrantz has been cracking since construction has been taking place.  There are pieces of the curb on Fiebrantz near Port Washington that are now completely missing.  Musa from the city has inspected and is referring this to Cecelia the business liaison for the city.


Some residents have reported sewer rats and yet some near the Fiebrantz area report dust and dirt and having to rinse cars and houses frequently.  The question was posed as to why there was not a screen placed on the dumping ground 4092 N. port Washington to protect homes and cars.  Many are reporting frequent battles with dust and the concern that recent paint jobs on the house or business will be damaged.  Another question posed was where to place damage complaints.  Several homes had floods during a recent rain and a commercial building has substantial damage that may be linked to the construction taking place on Port Washington.  If you suffer any damage, see sewer rats, or other issues, please take pictures and email them to us as we can forward the concerns to the parties in addition to your formal complaint being registered.

 Residents are also concerned about getting a clean up agreement in place now before the construction from both Meade and LaLonde are done.  Residents would like to know what kinds of clean-ups are planned and when they will take place.  For example, sewer inspects prior to the construction and there will also be sewer inspects right after construction is completed. 


Block Party
Scheduled for Aug 11th from 10-7pm at the Green Bay Playground.  The committee meets weekly at Carolyn's and notices are being sent to businesses to ask for donations and participation.  Notices are also being sent to elected officials.  Rick is leading the committee.  Gracelyn Wilson is working with the block club committee also.  Please email if you would like to serve on the committee.

DOT
Trimming has been completed for the first time. Grover Heights is concerned about the brush on the side of the fence next to freeway.  These still touch the wires and lines for the cable, phone, and electricity.  These still pose danger to the residents.  DOT has trimmed the side nearest residents who have noticed that the overgrowth contributes greatly to the appearance of squirrels, raccoons, skunks, opposums, and insects. 

DOT is supposed to return to trim the second side and look for what residents could use the property for.

Candidate forum
Residents were invited to the brainstorm where those who will run to take State Rep Elizabeth Coggs place will present.  Millie Coby also visited and spoke very briefly to the group.
Residents were also notified of a Friday Event sponsored by Ald. Coggs.
Residents were notified of a Thursday event sponsored by Sup. Willie Johnson.

Residents also would like to know how to become  a TIN as well as from where to get citywide grant information.



WE energies (Asphlung) has completed tree trimming to remove hazards in the Grover Heights area.  ATT has yet to complete the trimming.

If you had additional concerns, please email or call so that we can get them addressed as best as possible from both the project supervisor Casey and the Business Liaison Cecelia.

Thanks to the distribution team: Diane, Churchill, Rick, Samuel, Betty, and Officer Osiewalski.

Respectfully submitted,

GHNBC

Port Washington Road Update 7/19/12

Currently the majority of the roadway pavement has been placed in the southbound lanes, including the shoulder and curb and gutter, between Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Capitol Drive.  The contractor will be sawing the curing concrete again tonight in order to cut in the pavement joints.  They will begin setting up forms at the intersections, prior to placing concrete at those locations.  The preparation work is expected to take 2 to 3 days before they place the concrete. We are also expecting to install the electrical conduit behind the new curb and gutter starting next week.

The contractor will begin setting up string lines and begin grading in preparation for curb and gutter placement north of Capitol Drive.  We are hoping to place the curb and gutter concrete in this area mid to late next week.

I expect that the temporary access at Abert Pl. to be unavailable until the they finish preparing the base and placing concrete at the intersection.  I anticipate the temporary access may not be available again until after next weekend.  However, I will keep you posted if this condition changes.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue reconstruction of Port Washington Rd.


Casey Wierzchowski, P.E.
Senior Project Engineer
expUS Services Inc.