Patrols increase along data center construction route amid noise complaints, road damage

FREDONIA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- At the intersection of State Highway 57 and County Highway A, a seemingly endless parade of dump trucks moves along, carrying dirt from and gravel to a data center construction site near Port Washington.

Concerns about the project, itself, have played out for months in Port Washington. Now, the Ozaukee County Sheriff's Office says it is ramping up enforcement efforts after receiving numerous speeding and noise complaints about the truck traffic.

The trucks going to and from the data center site go past Mike Shafer's house along Highway A. With his home set back about 25 years from the highway, Shafer said the noise and rumbling have been unbearable, especially since the work is happening on a 24-hour cycle on weekdays.

"They come through here in the middle of the night, and they make a lot of noise," Shafer said. "Especially when they're speeding. The tire noise is just unbelievable."

Ozaukee County Sheriff Christy Knowles did not respond to a request for an interview Thursday. The department announced the extra patrols in a social media post Wednesday morning. 

Deputies will focus on county highways KW and A in Belgium and Fredonia, as well as state highways 33 and 57 where they go through Fredonia and Saukville. The sheriff's office says the patrols are happening on all three shifts.

"We have also communicated directly with data center construction management, who have been cooperative," the sheriff's office post read. "We have shared the concerns raised by residents and requested this information be passed along to their drivers. Our goal is voluntary compliance and improved driving along these routes."

Vantage Data Centers is building a total of four data centers on a 672-acre campus about one mile inland from Lake Michigan.

In a statement to CBS 58, a Vantage spokesman was aware of the speeding and noise concerns people in the area have raised.

"We conduct daily reviews with the general contractors, including emphasizing that being compliant with speed ordinances and noise restrictions is our joint responsibility," Mark Freeman, a Vantage spokesman, said. "In addition, Vantage is intentional about keeping the roads clean and regularly removes debris from them."

The traffic is also causing significant pothole problems along the construction route. Shafter pointed to a large pocket of road across the street from his home that was freshly patched.

There were multiple other large potholes that appeared to have been recently patched.

"At some point, someone's gotta fix all this and pay for it," Shafer said. "Who's gonna do that?"

Warren Guettel, the construction superintendent for the Ozaukee County Highway Department, told CBS 58 in a phone interview Thursday workers had patched a series of potholes along Highway A on Wednesday.

Guettel confirmed the county suspects the trucks going to and from the data center site are responsible for the damage.

When asked who will pay for the unexpected road repairs, Guettel said that's still an ongoing conversation. He said the county, the city of Port Washington, Vantage and construction contractors were all involved in those discussions.

Shafer said he believes Vantage should ultimately cover those costs. Overall, he sees the project as a double-edged sword; while the traffic is a nuisance, he knows all those trucks amount to a lot of dollars for local construction and hauling businesses.

"[If] We need a data center, we need a data center," he said. "I'm fine with that prospect of it."

For Shafer, the most pressing issue is knowing just how long the roar and rumble will last outside his home. From having a hard time sleeping to worrying about his ability to play fetch with his three dogs, Shafer said the traffic is diminishing his quality of life.

"It's gonna go for years," he said. "How much longer do we get impacted by it?"