Traffic was flowing along the length of Wisconsin Avenue this morning, marking the end of a detour that had rerouted motorists on Bazinsky and Porters Chapel since Feb. 1.

The main reason for the detour was to allow a perpendicular cut in the road and construction of an underpass that will allow U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center personnel to reach all buildings on its campus without leaving the secured area.

“The Corps of Engineers and ERDC appreciate the understanding of the City of Vicksburg and its residents and the inconvenience closing Wisconsin has had,” ERDC Commander Col. Gary Johnston said in a statement. “We are all glad that traffic is flowing normally again. The completed project will improve traffic flow for both the City of Vicksburg and ERDC.”

Vehicles were reportedly taking the restored route as early as last Thursday, although some work continued in the area.

Vicksburg Public Works Director Bubba Rainer said the Corps’ portion of the work was completed by the April 23 deadline. “Everything went like it was supposed to,” he said. “Paving was done on time.”

However, the city paired the interruption with a federal stimulus-funded resurfacing project, one of two paid for from a $947,635 allocation from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The other, milling and paving of Clay Street from Cherry Street to Mission 66, was completed April 7.

Work continues on the actual internal road that will link the main portion of ERDC with its Information Technology Lab where the super computers are located.

“Eventually, all traffic for ERDC will be internal to the research facility installation, eliminating ERDC traffic off Porters Chapel and Wisconsin Avenue,” ERDC spokesman Wayne Stroupe said in the statement.

Construction on the internal road will continue through late August, when it is slated to be complete at a cost of approximately $2 million.

ERDC dates to 1928 when it was founded to study rivers. Scientists and support personnel there now work in support of Army military and civilian projects worldwide.