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Dry, warm winter a 'godsend' for Lambeau Field construction workers

Expansion project for Green Bay Packers stadium benefits from mild winter.

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Everything else is going the Green Bay Packers' way this year, so why shouldn't the weather?

 An unseasonably dry and warm winter is allowing construction at Lambeau Field to forge ahead for the addition of 6,700 seats, new entrances and other improvements. 

 "It's a godsend to us. You don't have the frost to deal with. We're able to excavate in a normal manner," said Royce Alsbach, vice president with Miron Construction Co., on Thursday during a media tour at the stadium. 

 "I don't know if it's helped speed us up, but it hasn't slowed us down."

Albasch said workers are more productive in this weather because they aren't fighting the cold.

Work primarily is happening on the outer perimeter of the stadium at the north and south end zones, so it won't disrupt playoff games, said Ted Eisenreich, Packers director of facility operations.

"We've been at this for a couple of games. We adjust in and out on game days," he said.

The new seats, scheduled to be completed for the 2013 season, also won't do much to reduce the season-ticket waiting list, which the Packers said Thursday has grown to 96,000. Blame a Super Bowl victory and a 15-1 season for the list growing from 87,000 this year. The Packers have not said how new seats will be sold.

Meanwhile, 60 construction workers are on site. About 1,600 workers are expected to be employed during the two-year project, though the peak will be 300 at one time.

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Source: Green Bay Press-Gazette, Richard Ryman.