By Kris Leonhardt

MARSHFIELD – Work scheduled for this summer on Marshfield’s Central Avenue has been bumped to 2019.

The project, which was set to begin following Wood County’s Farm Technology Days in July, called for the resurfacing of Central Avenue between Arnold and Harrison Streets – a stretch of road that is part of State Highway 97 and falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation.

“They waited too long to get their bid – in essence is what it was – to put the bid out for contract for Central,” Marshfield Mayor Bob McManus said. “So, when they got their bid back, it came back 50 percent higher – is what they have stated to us – than what they had budgeted.

“They waited, I believe, until several weeks ago to do the bid, and they said, ‘Looking back at it, they should have done this back in fall and winter – got the bids when more contractors have less work – so you have multiple bids, that brings your price down.’ They didn’t do that. So they said, ‘We are going to wait, and we are going to do it next year.’”

Meanwhile, the city had already placed their barrels out to begin their improvements and work on gas lines.

The mayor said that the city has expressed its dissatisfaction with the state’s handling of the road work and is disappointed that residents will have to put up with the road conditions for another year.

“It is very late in the game, and we are just receiving notice,” said McManus.