Beginning on schedule last April and scheduled for completion today, the $4.5 million Johnson Street Reconstruction Project still faces several weeks of construction.

“They are several weeks behind, no doubt about it,” Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said.

The project is more than halfway done, but delays have been numerous and continue to be so. Many of the delays have been blamed on underground utility construction because the city does not have a good idea of what exactly lies under the streets.

“Underground construction really takes up most of the time. Most people don’t know that,” Verveer said.

The entire reconstruction project entails new concrete pavement, curbs, gutters and sidewalks, as well as replacement of water mains, storm sewers, sanitary sewers, traffic signals lighting and landscaping.

Since the Johnson Street project began, the final project completion date and every internal construction completion date have fallen through.

Madison Gas and Electric and Charter Communication are two of the companies responsible for laying new wiring, gas lines, cable lines and fiber optics.

The project contractor, Parisi Construction Company, will soon be liable for $1,200 daily fines for every day after the completion date they are not finished.

In accordance with state law, the state must choose the lowest bidder for construction, and that bidder was Parisi.

A new feature on Johnson Street at the intersection of University Square and Gordon Commons will include traffic lights that will help to yield oncoming traffic for students living in the University of Wisconsin’s Southeast residence halls.

Concrete paving on the project has begun but completion still faces several weeks.

“Once the main line concrete is poured it takes the electrical contractors about two weeks to install traffic lights. However, the reality is more like one month,” Verveer said.

Traffic on West Johnson Street will open depending on the weather during the week of Nov. 3. However, all work will not reach completion until the scheduled date of Nov. 15.

Production has picked up since school has started because of criticism from students and businesses, among others.

Since the reconstruction plan starts by the Engineering Campus and extends to the State Street and Johnson Street intersection, businesses in University Square have complained, and many State Street storeowners said they had the worst summer sales on record.

The Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel is just one of several establishments to feel the effects of the reconstruction project.

“We have noticed substantial decrease in our drive-up/walk-in traffic. However, we understand the price of progress,” Sales Director of the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel Mark Brown said.

The Nitty Gritty also has felt the crunch of construction. According to manager Byron Brown, sales have been down 30 percent since construction began.

Johnson Street and the entire sidewalk have been ripped up for new concrete pavement and people have found parking an obstacle around the Nitty Gritty.