Wabasha has two seasons: winter and road construction

You may have noticed, downtown Wabasha is cur-rently experiencing traffic disruption due to road con-struction. As drivers make their way down Pembroke Avenue, they encounter traffic cones placed in the center of the road, requiring vehicles to slow down considerably or wait for oncoming cars to pro-ceed before taking their turn. Given that half of the down-town roadway was rebuilt and completed just last fall, many wonder why additional construction is going on again.Public Works Director Tony Johnson explained that the current downtown work is considered a “final punch”, a construction term referring to the last phase of the 2023/2024 Street construction project. Road construction that is cur-rently underway, is focused on the area surrounding the manhole covers. The new pavement laid down in 2024 needed about a year to settle properly before crews could return to even it out. Johnson noted that this final step is essential for maintaining a smooth surface, which is es-pecially important for snow plows to operate effectively during winter. Once com-pleted, the downtown road 2023/2024 Road Construction will be completed. Wabasha Public Works is currently undertaking their yearly roadway repairs on the city’s Westside. These road maintenance disruptions have led to frustration among community members who are concerned about potential tax increases. According to Public Works Director Johnson, the City allocates an annual Public Works budget specifically for street maintenance. The an-nual maintenance budget for Public Works is separate from money allocated to the larger Street Improvement Project planned for 2025 and 2026.Each year, the department surveys different areas of town to determine which sec-tions of roadway will receive maintenance. They rotate the maintenance efforts on a yearly basis to ensure ongoing upkeep throughout town. “We have some bad spots that are getting done,” Johnson noted.The current maintenance plan involves patching dam-aged sections with blacktop, followed by the a micro slurry treatment by an outside contractor. A message on Facebook was shared form The City of Wabasha regard-ing the road construction on the Westside, “The City of Wabasha has hired Fahrner Asphalt Sealers to perform Micro surfacing on 7th Street West, Campbell Avenue from 7th Street West to 3rd Street West, 3rd Street West from Campbell Avenue to Gambia Avenue, and Phelps Avenue from 5th Grant Boulevard to 6th Street West. City crews have been milling and patch-ing these areas prior to the Micro surfacing application. Traffic and parking will be affected during the process. Please follow all road con-struction signs when posted. The tentative date for the pro-cess is July 31st but can change due to scheduling conflicts and weather. The average cure time is around one hour. There will be traffic control and flaggers. Micro surfacing is made of an emulsion with a polymer (CQS-1HP), 3/8” minus aggregate, Portland Cement, and water. Thank you for your patience while this work is being completed! -Wabasha Public Works”.The Public Works crew will also address cracks on the bike path, although this will not be their primary focus. Johnson said that the repairs on the bike path will be completed by fall as the team’s schedule allows, alongside their other respon-sibilities. Johnson explained that routine repairs such as these are a standard part of Public Works’ duties.At the July City Council meeting council members unanimously approved the Street Improvement Plan for 2025/2026. This plan aims to mill and overlay several streets in Wabasha that were surveyed and require repairs. The feasibility report looked at improvements for Prospect Avenue, Bailey Avenue, and 4th Grant Boulevard, how-ever, these streets have been removed from the project due to cost concerns and will be considered in a future project. Property owners on those streets did not receive hearing notices. With those two streets removed, the estimated cost of the project is $1,941,940.

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