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Rhinelander Officially Breaks Ground On Streetscape

As the construction equipment roared behind them, federal state and local officials gathered Tuesday afternoon at the core of the Streetscape reconstruction in downtown Rhinelander to note the historic change.

Mainly using federal funding through USDA and the state of Wisconsin, the city will redo the underground infrastructure this year of most of the downtown, putting the final touches on the 20 block project in 2017.

Rhinelander mayor Dick Johns says the plan is to keep access for downtown businesses....

".....the contractor and workers will be focused on continuing access for visitors and business...."

Mark Barden from Town and Country Engineering says this is the largest project they've done for the city and he thinks it will be well worth it...

"...this project willl not only rebuild the deteriorating infrastructure but it willl also revitalize(the downtown)..."

USDA Rural Development Director in Wisconsin Stan Gruszynski says it takes money to do the necessary infrastructure work needed to keep the country's business economy going....

"....if you want to build community, if you want to move the community forward, if you want to do the things necessary for the future, you have to set aside your differences and make good, sound, practical decisions...."

The project's cost is expected to be just under $10 million with the city contributing just under $1 million and the rest through grants and other funding sources.

More information on the project is at Rhinelanderstreetscape.com City officials will be giving periodic updates on the reconstruction to help visitors and customers.

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