I know you have all heard the old joke….”There are two seasons in Wisconsin — Winter and Construction.” Well, that is certainly the case here in Burlington. Our Streets and Sidewalk Program is going full steam ahead right now, with working wrapping up on State Street and beginning on Conkey Street. The Department of Transportation just began work resurfacing Highway 11, and works on the By-pass continues at a rapid pace. While the construction trucks and detours are at a minimum annoying, I ask that you please bear with us this season. The dirt, dust and noise are temporary and the end results are very good.
Another possible way to view this type of situation, is that the City is taking a proactive approach to its infrastructure needs. One of the most critical aspects facing cities in the U.S. is aging infrastructure and a lack of proper maintenance and replacement. Some have called it a “crisis” with billions of dollars in unmet needs being ignored in our nations cities. While we do have some old infrastructure here in Burlington which needs to be addressed, the City’s pragmatic and proactive approach is attempting to address these needs as quickly as possible. The end result is a better system, less long-term costs, and the prevention of major emergencies due to infrastructure failure.
So, please plan for a few extra minutes and bear with us during this “Construction” season.
