Dignitaries toss dirt at the corner of Hill Avenue and Belknap Street in Superior on Monday during the ceremonial groundbreaking for the two-year reconstruction of Belknap Street. Jed Carlson / Superior Telegram

By News Tribune, Superior Telegram on Apr 3, 2017 at 6:41 p.m.

 

The official groundbreaking for the long-awaited reconstruction of Belknap Street in Superior took place Monday.

Officials including current Mayor Bruce Hagen and former Mayor David Ross — who’s now the head of the state Department of Transportation — gathered at the corner of Belknap and Hill Avenue for the ceremony.

The two-year, $23 million project includes the reconstruction of Belknap Street (U.S. Highway 2) between Hill and Banks avenues, and is a joint effort between the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and city of Superior. The project will replace 1.4 miles of concrete road, upgrade the storm sewer system and improve safety along the major east-west corridor in Superior.

This year’s work will extend from Banks Avenue to John Avenue on the west, and from Birch Avenue to East Seventh Street on the east. The remainder of the work — in the middle, linking those two segments — will be completed in 2018.

At least one lane of traffic will remain open in both directions during the project. Go to projects.511wi.gov/belknap for Belknap Street project updates.