Ripon College Days

Construction through parts of the downtown area has created a challenge for Riponites. Navigating the 1.4 miles of construction is difficult for walkers and drivers alike, and has been the catalyst of many headaches for local residents and businesses.

The City of Ripon began construction on this particular project on July 5, 2005 and is not expected to be finished until late next summer. The construction runs along Blackburn from Jackson to East Fond du Lac Street and also along East Fond du Lac to Houston Street.

Area businesses, customers. and daily traffic have been aggravated by this construction since before this July however, as the project first began in 2004.

Travis Drake, the public works official for the City of Ripon, says construction last summer was to prepare for the current project. Last year, the purpose of the construction was to redo utilities that run through the downtown area, which was necessary before the current project could begin.

"The condition of the road was greatly deteriorated," explains Drake. "It had inadequate drainage, it didn't suit the city's needs and it didn't fit the state criteria."

The current project is planned for completion in two phases. The first phase is scheduled to be completed Nov. 18. The second phase will begin next spring with completion planned by the fall of 2006.

The city is being criticized by many for what seems to be an unreasonably long nuisance. "It's annoying that they did this last year and they are doing it again this year," says sophomore Tricia Barker. "Things like shopping, banking, and hopping on Highway 23 have [continued to be] a hassle because of the inconvenience of the construction."

Though local people have no doubt been inconvenienced, construction has severely affected several businesses in downtown Ripon. Places that depend heavily on traffic through the downtown area, like the BP gas station on East Fond du Lac Street and the Republican House on Blackburn have experienced losses in business due to the lack of traffic and difficult access.

"The construction hasn't affected us quite as much because of the college crowd," says Srbo Lazic, the manager at the Best Western in Ripon. Lazic says another reason the hotel business hasn't been seriously affected is because the hotel depends largely on reservations. The number of walk-ins, however, which generally accounts for between ten and 15 percent of guests, has declined since construction began.

Lazic, who also owns The Underground Bar and Cozumel restaurant, says the two businesses have been greatly affected by the construction. Cozumel had very good business until June of this year, says Lazic, but when the construction began the amount of business kept declining. Lazic eventually had to close the restaurant, but plans to reopen it once construction is complete.

Though businesses have taken a serious hit, many can relate to the fact that the construction is simply disorienting and confusing. Barker concludes that it simply "hampers me from going about my daily routine with ease."

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