Mainline Starts on $810M Interchange

Mainline work has started on the $810 million Marquette Interchange project in Milwaukee with the awarding of contracts for two legs.

Chicago-based Walsh Construction Co. was awarded the North Leg for $103 million, said Peg Schmitt, director of the Office of Public Affairs for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The leg stretches from the Interstate 43 interchange to North Avenue.

A joint venture made up of Plain-based Edward Kraemer & Sons, Black River Falls-based Lunda Construction and Waukesha-based Zenith Tech was awarded a $30.5 contract for the West Leg.

The venture, which is called Marquette Constructors LLC, will reconstruct the leg of Interstate 94 from 25th Street to 13th Street. Work includes construction of one permanent ramp bridge, roadway work and construction of six temporary structures. The temporary structures will facilitate construction of future segments.

Two preliminary contracts were awarded, also, a nearly $9 million contract to Walsh for bridge and roadway improvements on West Clybourn Street and a $79,000 contract went to Arrow-Crete Construction LLC of West Allis for sidewalk and landscaping improvements, also on Clybourn.

Additional contracts are expected to be let in the coming months. The project will run through 2008.

Golden Trowels Awarded

Madison-based J.H. Findorff & Son Inc. and Neenah-based Miron Construction Co. Inc. have each been recognized with Golden Trowel Awards for excellence in masonry design.

Findorff received three honors, for its Madison headquarters, Capitol Point Condominium, also in Madison, and the Bahr residence in Middleton.

Miron was recognized for the Wausau East High School project.

The Annapolis, Md.-based International Masonry Institute presents the awards every two years.