I-43 construction firm targets new site in town

Hoffman Construction is applying for a new gravel crushing and equipment storage location in the Town of Grafton after rescinding its first proposal for a site on Ulao Road.

The new proposed project site is about 10 acres of agricultural land located just east of the Highway 32 and I-43 interchange.

The site would be used to stage equipment, stockpile material, crush and screen gravel, mix concrete and house office trailers.

Hoffman is one of several construction companies contracted by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to work on the I-43 lane expansion project. To complete work on the northern portion of the interstate work zone, Hoffman is seeking a location for its operations.

Hoffman first sought to run the gravel crushing and storage location on about 10 acres of farmland off of Ulao Road between I-43 and Highway C.

The application was met with strong objections by town residents and neighbors of the site, who cited concerns about dust, noise and traffic from Hoffman operations.

The Plan Commission tabled consideration on the site on Sept. 1 to allow time for additional information to be submitted and were scheduled to reconvene talks on Oct. 6 before Hoffman rescinded its application ahead of the meeting.

Consideration on the new site, which would operate until Dec. 2025 when the interstate project is completed, was scheduled for Nov. 3.

In Hoffman’s site application, the company states the new site is located in a non-densely populated area and has buffers separating the location from residents. To the east, an old landfill serves as a buffer, to the west is an I-43 ramp and to the north and south are trees separating the site from residential areas.

Before work on the site begins, a silt fence would be installed around the perimeter and berms between five and 11 feet will be created, according to the application. Hoffman estimates that the nearest residents of the site would experience noise no greater than a residential level.

The application also stated that because the site is near I-43, no local roadways would be used and that the site is located an adequate distance from wetlands, flood plains and shoreland zoning areas.

The majority of work on the site would occur during daytime hours on Monday through Saturday. With winter work limited, the site would be used heavily for two to three months each year and occasionally for about six to seven months.

Once work on the site is finished, which may even be before Dec. 2025, the site will be restored to its current status.

“Once I-43 is completed, all equipment and material will be removed from the site and the site will be restored to its original condition,” the application stated. “Topsoil will be spread over the entire site and temporarily seeded until crops can be planted.”