Stevens Point begins nine-stage Business 51 reconstruction through fall 2027

Stevens Point has begun the first stage of a nine-stage reconstruction of Business 51, bringing a full closure to the section between Briggs Street and approximately 250 feet north of Franklin Street.

Stage 1 began July 6, 2026, and the hard closure began July 8. The immediate change affects people driving through the corridor, deliveries serving nearby businesses and residents who use Business 51 for neighborhood access.

Where the closure is located

The Stage 1 closure extends from Briggs Street to about 250 feet north of Franklin Street. The approved sources do not provide a final detour map, so alternate routes are not listed here.

People traveling through the area should rely on posted construction notices and current directions rather than assuming that routes or access points will remain unchanged during the work. The city provides project notices through its Business 51 project information.

The closure of the roadway does not mean businesses along the corridor are closed. The City of Stevens Point says those businesses will remain open and accessible during construction. That distinction matters for customers, workers, delivery drivers and other people who need to reach businesses in the project area.

What the larger project includes

The broader project is a multiyear reconstruction of Business 51 that includes road and utility upgrades. Its corridor runs from Briggs Street to North Point Drive, a longer stretch than the portion closed during Stage 1.

Construction is divided into nine stages. That schedule means the work will proceed in sections over time, but the approved sources do not give closure boundaries or dates for each of the later stages.

Stage 1 was expected to wrap up by mid-August 2026. That was a projected work target, not a confirmed completion date. As of Aug. 7, the approved sources did not establish whether Stage 1 had finished or provide a current status update.

Project timeline and what to watch

The city describes the Business 51 reconstruction as beginning in 2026. Overall construction is expected to continue through fall 2027, so access changes may continue beyond the current Stage 1 closure as later portions of the project move forward.

The fall 2027 date is also an expectation rather than a confirmed final completion date. Project schedules may change because of weather, utility conditions or other construction circumstances.

For now, the confirmed travel change is the full Stage 1 closure between Briggs Street and about 250 feet north of Franklin Street. The confirmed long-term scope is road and utility work along Business 51 between Briggs Street and North Point Drive. Residents, commuters, businesses and delivery operators should check the city’s project notices for updates as the nine-stage schedule develops.