Citizen Staff/Dan Baulch
Workers with Kopplin & Kinas work on installing rip rap to the west bank of the Beaver Dam River in Tower Parking Lot. Both culverts have been removed and the clear channel has been established.
Entering the holiday weekend, Beaver Dam Mayor Tom Kennedy can rest easy knowing the city's downtown redevelopment plan is right on schedule.
Contractors have today off as part of a long weekend, and as far as the mayor is concerned, the rest is well deserved.
"Things have gone really well," Kennedy said. "Everything's taking shape and there hasn't been any problems or issues that have been of any real concern.
"One of my major concerns coming in to the project was the weather, and that hasn't been an issue at all. The weather has actually been a welcoming asset since it has cooperated and hasn't caused any havoc. Timing-wise everything is right on schedule."
Of the 10 buildings slated for demolition, only the bottom floor of the Celestial Buildings remains. Contractors spent Thursday working on the basement floor and the piers that supported the massive weight of the building.
Work on the remaining portion of the building will continue on Monday.
"From the contractor's standpoint, the Celestial building took a little longer than they had figured," Kennedy said. "But then again, the other buildings went down pretty quick. Hopefully next week the rest of the Celestial building will be removed."
Work in Tower Parking Lot has progressed quickly as well.
Both culverts are now removed, and Kopplin & Kinas spent Thursday installing rip rap on the west side of the river bank. Those who took the time to stroll along the work site got a great view of how the unimpeded Beaver Dam River will look as it flows out of the downtown.
"My first impression is that the open channel is wider than I envisioned," Kennedy said. "It's bigger, more expansive. It's not a small little creek running through there. It looks very impressive."
Contractors have also been working on cleaning and repairing the sidewalk and streets along the project grounds. This phase will kick into high gear in the next couple of weeks as more debris is removed from the grounds.
Other restoration work is expected to begin next week as well.
Workers are expected to put in top soil where the razed buildings once stood and temporary fencing will be brought in.
Mayor Kennedy reiterated his hopes that some items scheduled for phase two of the project next year would be moved up to this year.
Repairing and improving the walls of three businesses exposed during demolition top this list. Kennedy has also said that installing a footbridge over the clear channel river bed at Tower Parking Lot is on his early wish list.
"We're looking forward to getting down to the final portion of this phase of the project," Kennedy said. "We will get the fencing in, the top soil down and the streets open. Hopefully we can proceed with some phase two improvements, too."
dbaulch@capitalnewspapers.com