City to Begin Reconstruction of Portion of Rickelman Next Week

Effingham City Engineer Luke Thoele said that work to reconstruct a portion of Rickelman Avenue will begin next week.

Thoele told the Effingham City Council Tuesday that Rickelman will be closed between 4th Street and NorthMor Storage as of Monday. It will be a four to five month project, but there will be access to the businesses along the street. 

Thoele shared that a detour will route traffic around the project area using 3rd Street, Evergreen Avenue, and 4th Street. When the project begins on Monday, stop signs will be added on Evergreen Avenue at its intersection with 4th Street.

City officials are asking that motorists avoid the affected area as much as possible.

It's a busy time for road construction around Effingham. Work is beginning to rebuild eastbound I-70 from east of the north trilevel to the Montrose interchange, and the start of work to reconstruct Fayette Avenue in the western part of town.

The Council also awarded work to add a turn lane off Wernsing Avenue onto Raney Street in the City Business Park. Feutz Construction of Paris was awarded the work for just over $200,000.