$4 million construction project may limit access to businesses in Waunakee

Officials ask residents to support local businesses on Main Street during project

WAUNAKEE, Wis. — The village of Waunakee is paving the way for its future success with a new reconstruction project that will transform Main Street from Holiday Drive to Division Street.

The $4 million project, paid for with federal and state funding, as well as the village’s contribution of over $1 million, will enhance the look of the downtown area.

The reconstruction project that starts on May 1 includes the repaving of Main Street, adding on-street bike lanes and improving intersections.

Village Administrator Todd Schmidt said the project only helps to enhance what the village already has to offer.

“What we have along Main Street both visually as a beautiful corridor to be in, as well as have great shops for people to come and shop, that all works together to make that community a centric place,” Schmidt said.

The largest impact will be felt when crews close the Century Avenue and Main Street intersection that will be made into a roundabout, designed to make traffic run more effectively.

The village and Waunakee Chamber of Commerce have partnered together to create opportunities for residents to be a part of the process, hosting social events downtown throughout the three-month construction process.

Residents can track the progress of the project through social media and the Together Waunakee website. The team has also put together a pamphlet for residents to help guide them around the construction.

Chamber of commerce officials said even with the detours, they hope residents will still continue to support their local businesses.

“Our businesses are still open and they need your patronage more than ever, especially during the summer time. The road construction itself is a short amount of time, it is through the summer period, and people just need to realize that there will be some slight inconveniences, but it will be short lived,” said Ellen Schaaf, executive director of the Waunakee Chamber of Commerce.

The project is estimated to be completed by early September. The village will host an official ribbon cutting ceremony on Oct. 18 to celebrate the completion of the project.