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Shorewood DPW members press to reopen cross streets, allow after-hours parking amid prolonged construction
Summary
Committee members urged DPW staff to reopen cross streets and permit after-hours parking on blocks with no active construction, saying closures have continued for months without material storage; staff warned of contract, safety and staging constraints and noted upcoming June 18 work and tree removal. The committee deferred the item for further review.
Members of the Village of Shorewood Department of Public Works committee pressed staff to reopen neighborhood cross streets and allow after-hours parking where construction crews are not actively storing materials, saying prolonged closures are creating inconvenience and unsafe detours.
A committee member said they had photographed many cross streets in April and May and found little or no construction material stored in most intersections. "These intersections being closed with nothing happening in them for three months is ridiculous," the member said, urging two steps: allow after-hours parking on blocks without active construction and open cross streets that are not being used for storage or staging.
DPW staff and project representatives cautioned that the construction contract and the project's traffic-control plan govern closures and that crews are moving materials from one end of the work zone to the other. A staff speaker noted June 18 as a substantial-completion milestone for watering and said tree removal on the east side would begin the following Wednesday, meaning some areas would remain posted for parking while pavement and related work continue.
Staff explained towing or removal of parked cars depends on whether an area is part of an active construction zone and whether a vehicle impedes traffic or construction; removing the "active construction" designation could limit legal grounds to tow vehicles. Staff also warned that reopening two-way cross streets could create staging conflicts for deliveries and pose safety risks if temporary road surfaces are not installed.
Committee members countered that the written contract does not surrender full village control of the road and urged DPW to show where contract language authorizes indefinite closures. The exchange included repeated requests for documentation from Leanne, the staff contact mentioned by speakers, and disagreement about how site materials have been stored at intersections.
With no resolution, a committee member moved to defer the item to a future meeting; the committee agreed and adjourned.
Next steps: The committee deferred further action and requested additional information from staff and the subcommittee about contract terms, material storage practices, and a plan for temporary access or parking adjustments.
