Impacts to Ephraim Highway Properties to be Determined in May

At a kickoff meeting between the Ephraim highway subcommittee and the engineering firm AECOM, the primary concern was impacts to properties along the highway corridor. Details of possible tree, fence or sign removal and cost estimates are expected in May, with time for public comment before final decisions are needed by Aug. 15.

The village has not officially decided on the burial of power lines or changes to streetlighting, which may have an affect on property encroachments. Once those encroachments are determined, letters will be sent to property owners who can then comment on the project’s impacts to their property.

“Some things can’t be avoided and some can be,” said Nick Becker, project manager with AECOM, of construction impacts on properties.

Ken Nelson, chair of the subcommittee, said that while the village is trying to resurface only on what is already existing pavement, grading along the shoulder and trenching for utility burial may impact objects along the highway.

“We’re going to do everything we can to avoid every impact that’s possible and that’s going to take some creative design work,” said Nathan Guequierre, senior planner with AECOM.

As the Department of Transportation (DOT) determines impacts to its right of way, which extends 33 feet from the highway centerline in most of the village, it will issue revocable permits to property owners next to the highway. Revocable permits allow a fence, sign or landscaping to remain as long as it does not interfere with the state’s project. If it does, the DOT will require the property owner to remove the obstruction at the owner’s expense and the object can’t be replaced after construction is done.

In addition, the village will manage encroachments that interfere with utility trenching and the sidewalk between the village beach and old fire station because those projects are separate from the simple highway resurfacing.

While a property owner might maintain the driveway, trees or flowerbeds all the way up until the asphalt highway, any land within 33 feet of the centerline is the property of the state.

The committee will attempt to inform and include affected property owners in the project as soon as encroachments are determined in May. Committee members commented on the need to involve affected property owners as soon as possible.

“In my mind, continuing to sell this whole project is going to be selling it to those people who are affected,” committee member John Held said.

In March, teams will collect boring samples along the downtown highway corridor to determine soil type and depth to bedrock. Those findings will help determine the location of the trenches needed for street lighting and power line burial, as well as the preliminary cost for the project.

The committee hopes the village board will vote on burial of power lines and possibly new streetlighting at its May 8 meeting after cost estimates are completed. If approved, the village will need to coordinate power line connections to individual properties.

The village hopes to complete stormwater improvements and, if approved, utility burial and streetlighting this fall. The resurfacing and sidewalk on a portion of the highway will be completed in the spring of 2019.