Public Informational Meeting Set For US 63 Construction Project In Spooner

SPOONER, WI -- The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is holding a public involvement meeting to discuss upcoming construction on US 63 (River Street) in the Washburn County city of Spooner.

When: 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 10.

The meeting will be an open-house format with exhibits, maps and a short presentation at 5:30 p.m. WisDOT staff will be available to answer questions.

Where: Spooner City Hall, 515 N. Summit St.

This segment of US 63 is aging, with deteriorated pavement, sanitary sewer and water main, and inadequate roadway lighting.

In addition, it has a higher-than-average crash rate along the four-lane facility, including at the signalized intersection with WIS 70 (East Maple Street), resulting in a decrease in the road's level of service.

To address these, WisDOT, in coordination and cooperation with the city of Spooner and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), will:

• Reconstruct US 63 from WIS 70 to Poplar Street with new pavement, sidewalk, curb and gutter.
• Reconstruct the US 63/WIS 70 intersection.
• Rehabilitate US 63 from Greenwood Avenue to WIS 70 by milling the existing asphalt and overlaying the road with new asphalt.
• Convert US 63 from Greenwood Avenue to Poplar Street to a three-lane road, with one lane for traffic in each direction and a two-way left-turn lane in the center to improve safety and reduce overall corridor travel times.
• Install new sanitary and storm sewer and water main.
• Improve pedestrian access to meet current Americans With Disabilities Act standards at intersections.
• Install new street lighting, pavement marking and signing.

Expected to begin in early April, construction is weather dependent. During construction:

• The signalized intersection of US 63 and WIS 70 will be closed during April and May.
  • Traffic will be detoured via WIS 35, WIS 48 and US 53.
  • The intersection is expected to be reopened the week before Memorial Day weekend.
• US 63 will be closed north of WIS 70 to through traffic during construction.
  • Traffic will be detoured via WIS 70 and US 53.
  • While the highway will be detoured, portions of the project will be accessible to local traffic when not under construction as much as feasible.
• During construction, efforts will be made to ensure that alleys and cross streets will be kept open as much as feasible.