Traffic is slowly picking up along County Highway R, which reopened last week. (City-Times photo)

By Sara Marls

Motorists will have an easier time in east Stevens Point and Plover, thanks to the reopening of County Highway R.

Portage County Highway Commissioner Nathan Check confirmed on Monday the stretch of roadway between County Highway HH and Porter Road has reopened.

In April crews began reconstructing the narrow two- lane roadway into a four- lane with a landscaped median as well as a five- foot paved shoulder. The project involved the Portage County Highway Department completing the grading and storm sewer improvements, followed by the final grading, curb and gutter, asphalt pavement, and restoration completed under a Wisconsin Department of Transportation contract by Sommers Construction.

The project is multi-jurisdictional and includes funding from the Village of Plover, Portage County, and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

Check said the road will close down to a one- lane in late August to close up temporary openings in the median, which were put into place to accommodate heavy traffic for the upcoming Farm Technology Days, held August 12-14.

“The roadway will be closed that last week of August for those median openings that need to be closed up, but those will be single- lane closures,” Check said on Monday. “There’s under 2 weeks of work left- the contractor has until mid- September to complete the project.”

Check said his department is working with the Portage Co. Sheriff’s Office to keep traffic as smooth as possible during Farm Tech Days, but said additional information would be released in the coming weeks.