U.S. 41 repair: On time, on budget Straight Arrow Construction worker Kevin Bury unrolls landscape matting during work on the US 41 construction project near the Larsen Road overpass Wednesday (photo by H. Marc Larson). The second phase of construction starts this week By Sarah Riley News-Chronicle Eleven weeks down, 11 weeks to go on the $10 million U.S. 41 repair project that has constricted West Side traffic this season. The large resurfacing and bridge-repair project that started in late March is expected to be finished by the first Green Bay Packers home preseason game on Aug. 23. The first stage of repair on the northbound side of the highway has gone smoothly, said Wisconsin Department of Transportation project manager Chuck Karow. The northbound side of the highway between Lombardi and Velp avenues will be done by June 11. "The construction began on March 24, so we're about halfway through it. We're roughly at the halfway point," Karow said. "The schedule right now depends on the weather." In the next two weeks or so, traffic will be shifted to the northbound side with one lane of traffic in each direction, allowing work on the southbound side to be completed. That means there will be a lot of changes in the next seven to 10 days, Karow said. Traffic will be routed onto the paved crossovers between the sides of the highway. Before that can happen, workers will move the orange barrels and concrete dividers to different locations. "Keep an eye out for construction workers and the equipment at this time," Karow said. Cranes will be lifting the concrete barriers to the other side, but Karow said drivers do not have to worry about the barriers being lifted above the traffic. Some problems occurred during the project setup when drivers stopped for the cranes, thinking they would lift the barriers above traffic. State Patrol Sgt. Dave Catalano said there have not been major traffic problems in the construction area or on nearby detour routes. He asked drivers to continue using their alternate routes, because vacation traffic could congest the area even more in the upcoming weeks. "People have done a wonderful job. However, we're only halfway there," Catalano said. "After this week, many schools are letting out, which means traffic will increase dynamically." One of the biggest problems police face is when drivers who have been in an accident do not drive to the crash-investigation sites. Accidents can block up the entire area because there is only one lane in each direction in most areas. Northbound drivers failing to merge early enough before the construction site near Lombardi Avenue has become a problem, Catalano said. Traffic has been backed up to the Oneida Street exit because drivers wait until the last second to merge, he said. Yield signs have caused confusion for some drivers, he added, because highway drivers are making dangerous stops in order to let mergers in. Highway traffic has the right of way. Drivers merging onto the highway should wait until it is clear before entering the highway. Other changes expected in upcoming weeks include the opening of an extra lane between Mason Street and Shawano Avenue. The southbound ramp from Mason Street will be closed and Larsen Road will be closed for several days soon.