Next Round Of Foxconn Permitting Will Be Brisk, Officials Say

RACINE COUNTY, WI -- As officials with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation are working with the Village of Mount Pleasant and Racine County on the reconstruction of several state, village and county roadways around the new Foxconn Development in Racine County, local officials signaled the next steps in buildings the Foxconn Gen6 flat-screen fabrication plant are going to come in a "fast and furious" fashion.

Subcontractors have already been awarded $34 million in contracts for work on site utilities, roadways, and associated storm drainage:

• Giles Engineering Associates Inc – Waukesha
• Staff Electric Company Inc - Menomonee Falls
• Hoffman Construction Company - Black River Falls
• A.W. Oakes & Sons, Inc. - Racine
• Payne & Dolan, Inc. - Waukesha

Adam Jelen, senior vice president of Gilbane’s Midwest division, said in a Milwaukee Business Journal report, that that bid announcements will come “fast and furious” over the next several weeks. In the same report, Jenny Trick, Executive Director of the Racine County Economic Development Corp. said permits will likely also be issued in the same frenetic pace - especially if the plant is slated to be completed in 2020.

According to a Journal Times report, the construction dollars are also flying around at a fast and furious pace as area roads and highways are expanded and upgraded throughout the area. The report states that $225 has already been spent on road projects and that another $155 million will be spent on local roads and $167 on I-94.

Foxconn: Local Road Projects 2019

Highway KR -- County KR, between East Frontage Road and County H, will be expanded to a six-lane concrete roadway. Construction of the new westbound lanes, to the north of the existing roadway, is scheduled to start early April. One lane of traffic will remain open in each direction on the current roadway. All lanes of traffic on County KR are scheduled to be open by late 2019. More about this project here.

Highway H -- Work began in mid March to reconstruct County H to a four-lane concrete roadway. All newly reconstructed County H lanes are scheduled to be open by spring 2020. Access to residences and businesses will be maintained. The speed limit will be reduced to 35 mph from south of County KR to WIS 11 during construction. Read more about this project here.

Braun Road -- The project began in August 2018 to reconstruct Braun Road to a six-lane urban roadway with concrete pavement between I-94 and County H. Braun Road is closed to motorists until fall 2019. Access will be maintained for emergency vehicles and contractor traffic. Read more about this project here.

International Drive -- The project began in August to construct International Drive, a new four lane concrete roadway connecting WIS 11 to WIS 20. Construction is anticipated to be complete late fall 2019. Read more about this project here.