This week’s updates from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) on road construction projects for Barron, Burnett, Polk, Rusk, Sawyer, and Washburn counties.
Northwest Region
Highway: Segments of WIS 13, WIS 27, WIS 35, WIS 40, WIS 48, WIS 54, WIS 72, WIS 85, WIS 88, WIS 93, WIS 112, WIS 124, US 2, US 8, US 53, US 63 and I-94.
- Location: Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Monroe, Pepin, Pierce, Rusk, Sawyer, Trempealeau and Washburn counties.
- Schedule: May 8 to mid-October
- Cost: $2.55 million
- Description: Replacing epoxy pavement markings.
- Traffic impacts: Motorists will encounter lane closures.
Barron County
Highway: US 53
- Location: 26th Avenue north of Rice Lake to Pine Grove Road south of Sarona
- Schedule: Sept. 5, 2023, to November 2024
- Cost: $21.89 million
- Description: Removing the existing and base course, placing a new base aggregate layer for drainage, replacing the pavement, rebuilding intersection approaches and installing cable barrier in the median between 26th and 27th avenues and a high-friction surface treatment on the pavement in the same area to reduce crossover and run-off-the-road crashes.
- Traffic impacts: North- and southbound US 53 traffic is operating on the southbound lanes, and the speed limit has been reduced to 55 mph.
Burnett County
- No current projects
Polk County
- No current projects
Rusk County
Highway: US 8
- Location: River Avenue in Ladysmith to the Price County line
- Schedule: May 6 to late August
- Cost: $3.74 million
- Description: From River Avenue in Ladysmith to Prentice Street in Glen Flora: Milling and overlaying approximately 11 miles of US 8 with asphalt; replacing or removing deteriorated guardrail; replacing deteriorated sections of curb and gutter; reconstructing curb ramps to meet Americans With Disabilities Act standards, where feasible; constructing a short segment of sidewalk in the village of Tony between Linden and Walnut streets to provide continuity; replacing two culverts in Glen Flora; installing new pavement markings; placing centerline rumble strips in rural areas; and paving the shoulders, including an additional two feet, and add shoulder rumble strips to minimize run-off-the-road crashes. From Prentice Street to the Price County line: Removing 2.25 inches of asphalt from US 8 and replacing it with 3.25 inches of new asphalt from Prentice Street to German Street in the village of Hawkins and from Washington Street in Hawkins to the east Rusk County line; removing the full depth of asphalt pavement and up to 2 inches of the underlying concrete pavement from German to Washington streets in Hawkins, cleaning and patching that segment, replacing the curb and gutter and placing a minimum of 3.25 inches of new asphalt to match the new concrete gutter; replacing curb ramps in Hawkins with Americans With Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramps at the crosswalks on US 8 at Main Street and at the west side of Washington Street; removing an existing parking lane that is no longer needed for the telecommunication business east of Main Street in Hawkins; replacing a culvert east of Hawkins; replacing curb and gutter where needed at rural side road intersections throughout the project limits; installing centerline rumble strips in rural areas to enhance safety; and adding shoulder gravel to match the resurfaced elevation of US 8 and at gravel side road intersections.
- Traffic impacts: Motorists will encounter shoulder and lane closures, with the latter controlled by flagging. In addition, pedestrian traffic will be maintained using temporary accommodations and detours.
Sawyer County
Highway: WIS 77
- Location: US 63 in the city of Hayward to County K in the town of Hayward
- Schedule: May 8 to early July
- Cost: $3.29 million
- Description: Removing a portion of the existing pavement and placing new asphalt pavement; cleaning, lining or repairing culverts; and placing new pavement markings.
- Traffic impacts: Motorists will encounter lane closures controlled by flagging.
Washburn County
Highway: US 53
- Location: Pine Grove Road southeast of Shell Lake to Wildcat Road southeast of Spooner
- Schedule: Aug. 15, 2022, to May 2024
- Cost: $16.8 million
- Description: Removing the existing pavement and a portion of the existing base course; placing a new base aggregate layer for drainage and new concrete pavement; replacing storm sewer, culverts, curb and gutter; reconstructing the approaches to US 53 from existing intersections; replacing shoulder rumble strips; and placing pavement markings.
- Traffic impacts: All lanes are expected to reopen to traffic today as the project is complete.
Highway: US 53
- Location: Wildcat Road southeast of Spooner to County A
- Schedule: July 31, 2023, to November 2024
- Cost: $22.74 million
- Description: Removing the existing pavement and a portion of the existing base course; placing a new base aggregate layer for drainage and new concrete pavement; replacing pavement on the interchange ramps at US 63 and WIS 70; replacing the pavement on WIS 70 between the ramp terminals; rebuilding existing intersection approaches; and rehabilitating the bridges on US 53 over the Yellow River and US 63 and WIS 70 bridge over US 53.
- Traffic impacts: North- and southbound US 53 traffic is operating on the southbound lanes, where traffic will run bidirectional until mid-July.
- County A is closed at US 53, and traffic is being detoured via County H.
- Traffic on the WIS 70 bridge over US 53 is operating on lanes shifted to the north side of the bridge, with one lane operating in each direction and an 11-foot lane width restriction.
- The ramps from northbound US 53 to WIS 70 and from WIS 70 to northbound US 53 are scheduled to close to traffic at 7 a.m. Monday, May 20, and the closure is expected to be in place for 19 days.
Highway: US 53
- Location: 26th Avenue north of Rice Lake to Pine Grove Road south of Sarona
- Schedule: Sept. 5, 2023, to November 2024
- Cost: $21.89 million
- Description: Removing the existing and base course, placing a new base aggregate layer for drainage, replacing the pavement, rebuilding intersection approaches and installing cable barrier in the median between 26th and 27th avenues and a high-friction surface treatment on the pavement in the same area to reduce crossover and run-off-the-road crashes.
- Traffic impacts: North- and southbound US 53 traffic is operating on the southbound lanes, and the speed limit has been reduced to 55 mph.
Last Update: May 19, 2024 12:08 pm CDT
