Patten Street in Boyd is getting a facelift—and then some.
Awarded last month to Skid Steer Guy of Mondovi for $2.478 million, the Patten Street Reconstruction Project starts in earnest next month. The road reconstruction is being funded with a Community Development Block Grant ($1,00,000), DNR Safe Drinking Water Loan Program ($783,250), and DNR Clean Water Fund ($1,258,500). The nature of the grants prevents sidewalk and other assessments, thus alleviating one potential burden for village residents tied to the project.
As for road construction details, Ayres Associates representative Brian Lambert outlined the scope, timeline, and expected disruptions associated with the reconstruction at a community meeting April 9 in the village hall. The session, structured as an open house and question-and-answer forum, gave residents the opportunity to voice concerns and better understand how the project will affect them.
Lambert said that the project would being in May and end the first week of September, with street removal starting east of Center Street on St. John’s Street and progressing westward. The block in front of St. Joseph Church is set to start June 3, while the area around Lotz Park is scheduled to start removal in late July. Each road section will receive removal, water, services, gravel, concrete, and paving. A typical reconstructed road section will include concrete cutter and pavement underdrain, with the road itself composed with an eight inch base of select crushed aggregate, eight inches base course, and three and a half inches of asphalt peaked in the middle for water drainage. Road paving for Patten Street will take place in two major phases, one in July and another in September. A final top coat of asphalt will be added next year after the road has been through a freeze-thaw cycle.
Residents affected by the project will be asked to park on nearby streets during the time that their road section is being worked on this summer, something that didn’t sit well with everyone.
“So you’re telling me I gotta park my camper on the street next to my house to get it out during the summer utilities and all this stuff?” one resident asked, receiving an answer in the affirmative. Lambert said that pedestrian access would be available at the end of each day, with limited or no vehicle access to their driveways during active construction in their block. Parking will need to occur on adjacent streets, and services such as garbage collection and mail delivery will be temporarily relocated.
“So I gotta park my truck out on the street?” The resident went on. “I can’t put it in my shed. I’m not saying you have to park it on the street, but it’s, it’s likely not coming out of my driveway…and if I have a heart attack, so you’re telling me that the ambulance has got to park all on the street outside of me and take me across somebody else’s yard and get me off to help?”
Lambert emphasized that emergency services will remain accessible throughout the project, though accommodations may be required.
“We are making sure that fire and ambulatory services are available,” he said, acknowledging that access routes may not always be ideal during construction phases.
Boyd trustee and local firefighter Michael Eslinger chimed in to assure residents that Boyd-Edson-Delmar Fire and EMS would be able to respond in case of emergency.
“I’m also on the fire department,” he said. “We’ll get there.”
Included in broader project plans meanwhile is replacement of underground infrastructure, including sanitary sewer lines, stormwater systems, and water mains. Service connections to individual homes will also be updated.
Surface improvements for the Patten Street Reconstruction Project will include new pavement, curb and gutter replacement, and sidewalk reconstruction. In many cases, adjoining driveways and curb ramps will also be replaced or modified to align with updated grading and accessibility standards. Construction will occur in segments, typically covering two blocks at a time, allowing crews to focus on utility installation before shifting to the next section.
During active construction in a given segment, that portion of the street will be closed to vehicle traffic for approximately one month. Residents will still have pedestrian access, but driveway access will be temporarily restricted while excavation and subgrade work are underway.
There were other questions as well.
“I have colored concrete,” another resident said of a driveway they redid last year. “Are you guys going to match the concrete?”
No definitive answer was given on the matter.
Concerns from residents during the meeting highlighted the challenges associated with the temporary loss of driveway access, particularly for those with large vehicles, campers, or boats. Lambert acknowledged these difficulties but explained that the nature of the soil and excavation work makes maintaining vehicle access impractical during certain stages.
“It’s clay,” he said. “Heavy soil.”
A third resident brought up a retaining wall they had, being assured there was no plan to touch it.
Beyond roadway reconstruction meanwhile, the project includes several property-related impacts. Sidewalks along the south side of the street will be fully replaced, and many driveways will be reconstructed depending on their condition and alignment with new grading.
Curb and gutter systems will also be replaced, improving drainage and roadway durability. Drainage enhancements may include the installation of drain tile for the length of the project, allowing for residents with sump pumps to potentially tie into it, rather than cut into the curb.
Also among points of contention at the Thursday meeting on Patten Street were trees located in the Patten Street right of way, which will be coming out as part of the project.
“The trees in the right away are going to be removed,” Eslinger said. “So for one, most of them are going to be affected by the project going on, whether the trees directly in the way or not. We’re going to be cutting through roots, and they will die eventually. So for your we were to leave them, most of them would be dead, and then the removal would be on the homeowner. For that, it’s been decided that all the trees in the village right of way are going to be getting removed. I know that that might be frustrating. It is the village right of way, and we really don’t want to be playing favorites and getting into that either.”
A dedicated project website accessible via link in the lower left of the village website at www.boydwi.gov.
The project website’s direct address is www.ayresassociates.com/patten-street-reconstruction/. Residents are encouraged to consult the site regularly for schedules, construction progress, and changes to times, as well as reach out to village staff with questions or concerns.
“The website will be updated after today, just based on comments that I get here,” Lambert said Thursday.
Once complete, the Patten Street Reconstruction Project will deliver upgraded utilities that will improve reliability and reduce the likelihood of future service disruptions, while new pavement and drainage systems will enhance safety and extend the lifespan of the roadway.
Improved sidewalks and curb ramps will also contribute to better accessibility for pedestrians, aligning with modern design standards and community needs.
Lambert and an on-site project representative will continue to oversee the effort, working closely with the village and contractors to ensure that the project stays on track and meets the community’s expectations. Project updates will be posted to the project website at www.ayresassociates.com/patten-street-reconstruction/.