Construction on downtown streets could kick off as early as April

A plan to reconstruct city streets around the former Wausau Center mall site could kick off as early as mid-April. 

Becher-Hoppe is about 90% complete with designing the project, which will reconstruct Washington, Jackson and Third streets south of Washington. City Engineer Allen Wesolowski told the city’s infrastructure committee that Becher-Hoppe plans to start bidding the work in mid-January and hopes to kick off construction in mid-April, as long as the weather cooperates. 

The work is connected to the mall redevelopment project. T. Wall Enterprises is working on a 150-unit, three-story building on the site right now. Called the Foundry on Third project, the mixed-use building is expected to open next fall. 

Washington Street borders the project on the north end and will be converted into a two-way street. Jackson and Third streets will be extended into the mall area as part of the redevelopment. 

The project is expected to cost roughly $4 million and would be paid for with tax increment financing funds. 

Construction on the streets project is expected to last into next fall, Wesolowski says. T. Wall Enterprises has presented plans for a second, similar building on the site, though nothing has been formally presented to city leaders yet.