Durham Drive to Close for Construction

With the construction costs of the project approved by the Common Council Tuesday evening, the signs had already announced the closure of Durham Drive  from McShane Drive to North Cape (Highway OO).

Dave Simpson, City Engineer, stated that the project will completely reconstruct the road, which has often been the focus of concerns due to its deteriorating condition and narrow lanes, beginning April 25.  A house that sits just a few feet from the road will be torn down along with a garage that is located just across the street from it.

Construction will widen the road, add shoulders and include an eight-foot wide walking path along the north side of the road.  It will cross over to join the existing path at the WE Energies fitness trail and continue north.

Simpson said that the extent of the project, which has already begun utilities construction, will end in late fall.  Because detour routes may take motorists into a portion of Franklin, which is Milwaukee County, he said that they could not officially sign a detour route. However, motorists traveling south on Durham will need to take McShane to Old North Cape road (County J) and go south from there.

Simpson said they have launched a website, www.durhamdrive.info,  that will keep residents and other motorists informed during the construction project.