Committee approves vacating Pine Ridge Boulevard so Wausau Hospital can expand campus

The City of Wausau Infrastructure & Facilities Committee voted to vacate and discontinue a short segment of Pine Ridge Boulevard from North 20 Eighth Avenue to West Hill Drive to allow Wausau Hospital (Aspirus) to expand its campus.

Wausau Hospital president Jeff Wiklander told the committee the project would add an expansion to the building that includes an additional 72 beds and support an emergency department parking expansion. “We have a continued need for care in Wausau, as well as really the greater Northwoods,” Wiklander said. He also said the project would bring an estimated $227,000,000 in investment and roughly 300 jobs over about a three- to three-and-a-half-year period.

The committee opened and closed a public hearing; only Aspirus representatives spoke during the hearing. Tom Renzo of REI said he was present on behalf of Aspirus along with Andrew Miller and Paul David to answer questions. After public input and staff comment, Alder Watson moved to vacate Pine Ridge Boulevard; Alder Larson seconded the motion. The committee chair called for the vote and said, “None are opposed,” and the motion passed.

The street vacation will clear the right-of-way needed for the hospital’s proposed parking and building expansion. Committee discussion noted that engineering received no resident comments opposing the vacation and that the short segment appears redundant for neighborhood circulation. A staff member confirmed the agenda item covered only Pine Ridge Boulevard and not an adjacent segment of West Hill Drive.

The committee did not discuss detailed permitting, timelines for construction, or required subsequent approvals beyond the motion to vacate. The action will proceed to any additional city steps required for final recording of the vacation and property reconfiguration.

The committee moved on to other business after the vote.