OUR VERSION OF THE MAZE RUNNER. April showers bring May, June, July, etc. construction. DECI and the City of Eau Claire will host a lunch hour meeting on May 20 to share information and answer questions business owners may have related to downtown area construction.

Had your fill of construction season already? Well, buckle up: there’s more on the way – especially for the downtown area. Downtown Eau Claire, Inc. (DECI) and the City of Eau Claire are hosting a meeting to discuss upcoming projects in the North Barstow District – namely, Madison Street, North Farwell Street, and North Barstow Street – and the potential impact on local businesses.

According to a media release shared on May 19, North Barstow District business owners are invited to learn more about the construction on Tuesday, May 20, from 12-1pm at Menomonie Market Food Co-op (206 N Barstow St., Eau Claire). City engineering staff will share staging maps, provide updates, and answer questions related to the anticipated construction.

North Barstow Street down to Madison Street and the Eau Claire River bridge will be closed beginning Tuesday, May 27, for about three weeks, the release stated.

The construction efforts will focus on repairing curb, gutter, and driveway approaches; sidewalk and pedestrian ramps; pavement and pavement markings; replacement of signals at Farwell, Barstow, and Forest Street intersections, and more. 

Free parking will be available in the North Barstow Parking Ramp (303 Galloway St., Eau Claire) beginning Friday, May 23, until construction is completed to help offset the loss of street parking during the project.

North Barstow District area will see several construction efforts from May through June this year. Construction map graphics, shared above and below, submitted by Downtown Eau Claire, Inc. 

Construction map graphics, shared above and below, submitted by Downtown Eau Claire, Inc. 

“DECI understands the significant challenges this project may pose for businesses,” DECI Executive Director, Erin Klaus, said. “This meeting is a crucial opportunity for owners and managers to ask questions, express concerns, and explore ways to work with the City of Eau Claire to reduce the impact of construction on downtown commerce.”

DECI plans to offer business support resources – including status updates and wayfinding – throughout the construction project, which can also be found at downtowneauclaire.org.

In City Manager Stephanie Hirsch's recent weekly update newsletter, the following timelines  for the downtown area construction were shared:

• "May 15 to May 24 will be used to complete construction on Madison Street, with working continuing on the north side of the Madison/Forest Street intersection. Traffic will be routed around the block on Hobart and William Streets.
• "On Saturday, May 24, Madison Street will be opened, and the detour that's been using Putnam Street to Galloway Street will be removed. This will reduce the traffic congestion that's been coming through downtown on Galloway Street.
• "Farwell and Madison intersection will open only as a three-way intersection with temporary signals, keeping the north side of the intersection closed. This control will be used to operate until the new permanent signals are installed.
• "Without traffic signals working yet at the Barstow/Madison intersection, Barstow Street access will remain closed on the north and south sides of Madison Street to keep Madison Street flowing through this intersection." 

Learn more about the North Barstow District area construction on the City of Eau Claire's website. Keep up with DECI online for future downtown-related updates.