'Hellish' 24-hour data center construction in Port Washington to end

Residents of Port Washington, Wisconsin, have voiced strong opposition to the "hellish" 24-hour construction schedule for a new $15 billion artificial intelligence data center being developed by Vantage, Oracle, and OpenAI. Since groundbreaking in mid-December 2025, neighbors near the site on the city's north side have complained about non-stop noise, dust, bright floodlights, and heavy traffic, causing significant disruptions to their daily lives and sleep. The city's Plan Commission initially approved the 24-hour weekday schedule in November 2025, less than a month before construction began, despite staff recommendations for a 14-hour schedule. This approval occurred without specific mention on the agenda packet, leading to outrage from residents who packed subsequent council meetings to condemn the decision and beg for an end to the round-the-clock work. Over four months, dozens of residents, including Dean Wiegert, Caleb Tydrick, and Tracy Finch, spoke at city meetings, detailing issues like constant machinery noise, vibrations, diesel exhaust, dust-induced breathing problems, road damage, and truck driver infractions. The Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office also reported "numerous complaints" and increased patrols around the construction routes. Responding to the sustained public pressure, Port Washington Mayor Ted Neitzke and Vantage representatives engaged with residents and city officials. On March 19, the city's Plan Commission unanimously voted to amend the construction hours, limiting outdoor work to 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday. These new hours are set to take effect on April 18, several weeks ahead of Vantage’s self-imposed May end date for 24-hour work. Mayor Neitzke stated that the benefits of accelerated construction were not worth the community's inconvenience.