Northwest Region Construction Update - August 25

Release date: August 25, 2023

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) provides weekly updates on road construction projects in the following counties in northwest Wisconsin: Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Rusk, St. Croix, Sawyer, Taylor, Trempealeau and Washburn counties.

Ashland County
Highway: WIS 13
Location: Jefferson Avenue in Mellen to Golf Course Road in the town of Morse.
Schedule: April 10 to November
Cost: $8.67 million
Description: Reconstructing WIS 13 from Jefferson Avenue to the north city limits; replacing the Bad River Bridge; grading to improve slopes and drainage; replacing storm and sanitary sewer, water main, sidewalk curb ramps, curb and gutter; and paving parking lanes, all in Mellen. Resurfacing WIS 13 from the north city limits to Golf Course Road in the town.
Traffic impacts: Motorists will encounter the following impacts:

• Northbound WIS 13 traffic follows WIS 13 to Fayette Avenue to WIS 77 to Olson Road to Butler Road to WIS 169 to WIS 13.
• Westbound WIS 77 traffic starts this route at the WIS 77/Olson Road intersection.
• WIS 13 remains a one-way northbound only road north of Thomas Street to Fayette Avenue.
• Butler Road is a one-way northbound only road between Tyler Avenue and East Butler Street.
• Southbound WIS 13 traffic follows County GG to Thomas Street to WIS 13.
• Westbound WIS 77 takes this entire route.

• Through truck traffic is being detoured via WIS 182, WIS 47, US 51 and US 2. Other state routes might be more advantageous depending on origination and destination.
• Local deliveries are permitted.

Highway: US 2
Location: Government Road to the Ashland/Iron County line
Schedule: June 5 through September
Cost: $4.99 million
Description: Resurfacing the road; lining, repairing or replacing culverts; reconfiguring US 2 to add left-turn lanes at the Bad River Lodge & Casino; and placing new pavement markings.
Traffic impacts: Motorists will encounter periodic daytime lane closures controlled by flagging.

Barron County
Highway: County P
Location: County A North to 7^th Avenue between Prairie Farm and Almena
Schedule: June 12 to September
Cost: $2.54 million
Description: Pulverizing and relaying the existing pavement, placing asphalt pavement, completing culvert work and placing pavement markings.
Traffic impacts: County P is closed to through traffic.

Highway: WIS 48
Location: Between 22 ½ Avenue in the town of Rice Lake and County SS in the city of Rice Lake
Schedule: July 17 to September
Cost: $1.08 million
Description: Replacing three culverts and the pavement above each.
Traffic impacts: WIS 48 is closed to through traffic, with motorists detoured via 22 ½ Avenue and County SS. For Labor Day weekend, local traffic will be able to travel through the work zone at the two northernmost culvert locations, which will have gravel surfaces.

Bayfield County
Highway: WIS 27
Location: Ounce River Bridge west of Cable
Schedule: May 15 to August
Cost: $989,911
Description: Replacing the bridge, pavement on both sides of the structure, guardrail and pavement markings.
Traffic impacts: None; project complete.

Buffalo County
Highway: WIS 37
Location: Branch Trout Creek Bridge northeast of the city of Alma
Schedule: June 12 to September
Cost: $991,178
Description: Replacing the bridge, the pavement on both sides of the structure and guardrail; and placing new pavement markings.
Traffic impacts: Motorists will use a single-lane bypass controlled by temporary signals to cross the creek.

Burnett County
Highway: WIS 70
Location: St. Croix River Bridge west of Grantsburg
Schedule: June 21 to October
Cost: $1.25 million
Description: Overlaying the bridge deck with concrete, making concrete structure repairs, repairing bridge joints, placing a polymer overlay on the sidewalk and replacing missing riprap, guardrail and approach pavement.
Traffic impacts: The bridge is reduced to a single lane of traffic controlled by temporary signals.

Chippewa County
Highway: 120^th Street and 24^th Avenue
Location: 30^th to 35^th avenues and 130^th to 125^th streets in Lake Hallie
Schedule: Aug. 7 to September
Cost: $634,090
Description: Removing a portion of the existing pavement, placing base and new pavement and placing new pavement markings.
Traffic impacts: 120^th Street and 24^th Avenue are closed to through traffic but are expected to reopen to traffic next week.

Clark County
Highway: Cardinal Avenue
Location: Rock Creek Bridge southeast of Neillsville
Schedule: June 22 to August
Cost: $318,760
Description: Replacing the bridge.
Traffic impacts: None; project complete.

Highway: County N
Location: South Fork Eau Claire River Bridge southeast of Thorp
Schedule: May 3 to September
Cost: $967,165
Description: Replacing the bridge.
Traffic impacts: County N is closed at the bridge but expected to reopen to traffic late next week.

Douglas County
Highway: WIS 13
Location: Engdahl Road to County H north of Poplar
Schedule: June 12 to October
Cost: $11.69 million
Description: Removing about 2 inches of existing pavement and overlaying WIS 13 with 3.25 inches of hot mix asphalt; cleaning, replacing or placing liners in culverts; replacing substandard guardrail and curb and gutter where needed; repairing flumes; and adding new pavement markings and centerline rumble strips.
Traffic impacts: Motorists will encounter single-lane closures controlled by flagging or temporary signals.

Dunn County
Highway: 21^st Avenue and 5^th Street East
Location: WIS 25 to 9^th Street and 21^st Avenue to WIS 25 South, city of Menomonie
Schedule: Aug. 2 to September
Cost: $843,629
Description: Removing some of the existing pavement, placing new asphalt pavement, replacing concrete curb and gutter and placing pavement markings.
Traffic impacts: The roads are closed in the work zone to through traffic, but they are expected to reopen to traffic later next week.

Eau Claire County
Highway: County M
Location: South county line to Lange Road south of Augusta
Schedule: Aug. 15 to October
Cost: $1.49 million
Description: Pulverizing and relaying the existing pavement and base course, placing new asphalt pavement, adding base aggregate to the shoulders as necessary, replacing culvert pipes, adding concrete curb and gutter at select horizontal curves and installing pavement markings and signage.
Traffic impacts: County M is closed to through traffic. During working hours, access is being maintained to all driveways from at least one direction. During non-working hours, two-way traffic is being maintained.

Highway: I-94
Location: Just west of the WIS 312/County EE interchange to the Chippewa River Bridge northwest of WIS 37.
Schedule: July 11, 2022, to September 2023
Cost: $23.71 million
Description: Reconstructing east- and westbound I-94 by removing and replacing the existing pavement from WIS 312/County EE to County E, replacing culverts and guardrail, installing median cable barrier, restoring the ditches and slopes and placing new pavement markings. Making improvements at the I-94/WIS 312/County EE interchange, including replacing the joints on the bridge, overlaying the deck with concrete and replacing the pavement on either side of the bridge and the ramps. Resurfacing east- and westbound I-94 by milling and overlaying the existing asphalt pavement from County C to the Chippewa River Bridge.
Traffic impacts: Motorists will encounter:

• Single-lane closures during off-peak travel times on I-94.
• The maximum width on eastbound lanes over the WIS 312/County EE bridge is 9 feet.

Jackson County
Highway: WIS 95
Location: Bridges over Cisna Creek west of Merrillan and Halls Creek in Merrillan
Schedule: June 19 to November
Cost: $2.17 million
Description: Replacing the bridge, the roadway approaches on both sides of the structures, guardrail and pavement markings.
Traffic impacts: WIS 95 is closed to traffic at the bridges, with traffic being detoured via US 12 and I-94.

Highway: WIS 95
Location: Bridge over the east fork of Halls Creek in the village of Merrillan
Schedule: May 15 to September
Cost: $1.06 million
Description: Replacing the bridge, the roadway approaches on both sides, guardrail and pavement markings.
Traffic impacts: The bridge is open to a single lane of traffic, with a 11-foot width restriction, controlled by temporary traffic signals.

Polk County
Highway: US 63
Location: St. Croix/Polk County line to County J south of the village of Clayton
Schedule: April 12 to late September
Cost: $5.71 million
Description: Replacing the pedestrian underpass east of 7th Street in the village of Clear Lake; milling off 2 inches of asphalt pavement and placing 3.25 inches of new asphalt; adding shoulder gravel to accommodate the highway profile increase; realigning the approach of County A/F at US 63 to achieve better sight distance at the intersection; realigning the approach of 60th Avenue at US 63; expanding the intersection tapers to meet current design standards; replacing guardrail; and cleaning, lining or repairing culverts and installing new end walls on some structures.
Traffic impacts: Motorists will encounter daytime lane closures controlled by flagging where crews are paving.

Polk and St. Croix counties
Highway: WIS 65
Location: North junction of Jewell Street in the St. Croix County village of Star Prairie to US 8 in the Polk County town of Balsam Lake
Schedule: May 15 to September
Cost: $8.85 million
Description: Removing a portion of the existing asphalt pavement, overlaying the roadway with new asphalt pavement, creating a narrow, paved shoulder and reconstructing three areas of substandard vertical curves – one between the St. Croix/Polk County line and the curve just to the north and two stretches between 28^th and 38^th avenues in the Polk County town of Alden.
Traffic impacts: WIS 65 is closed to through traffic, with traffic being detoured via WIS 64, WIS 46 and US 8.

Rusk County
Highway: Horseshoe Lake Road
Location: McDermott Creek Bridge south of Weyerhaeuser
Schedule: July 18 to early September
Cost: $354,406
Description: Replacing the bridge.
Traffic impacts: The road is closed at the bridge.

Highway: County B
Location: Main Creek Bridge south of Glen Flora
Schedule: May 30 to September
Cost: $737,856
Description: Replacing the bridge.
Traffic impacts: County B is closed at the bridge.

Highway: US 8
Location: Cedar Swamp Road southwest of Weyerhaeuser to the Chippewa River in Bruce
Schedule: July 10 to October
Cost: $6.17 million
Description: Removing a portion of the existing asphalt pavement; overlaying the roadway with new asphalt pavement; replacing culvert pipes; completing shoulder work;, replacing curb, gutter and guardrail, along with sidewalk curb ramps in Bruce; and placing new pavement markings.
Traffic impacts: Motorists will encounter lane closures controlled by flagging.

Highway: US 8
Location: Old 8 Road/East 16^th Street North in Ladysmith east to the Price County line
Schedule: Aug. 21 to October
Cost: $1.73 million
Description: Replacing 35 culvert pipes and abandoning two more; repairing or replacing wing walls on three box culverts; replacing pavement above culvert work and guardrail; and placing new pavement markings.
Traffic impacts: Motorists will encounter lane closures controlled by flagging and temporary signals. Temporary signals will be in place during Labor Day weekend at a culvert in Hawkins.

St. Croix County
Highway: Powell Avenue
Location: Kinnickinnic River Bridge, River Falls
Schedule: Aug. 8 – late October
Cost: $1 million
Description: Rehabilitating the bridge.
Traffic impacts: The road is closed at the bridge.

Highway: WIS 35
Location: County C in town of Somerset to Laser Drive in the village of Somerset
Schedule: April 26 to late October
Cost: $6.57 million
Description: Replacing the pavement from County C to Laser Drive; upgrading the WIS 35/Church Hill Road/Main Street intersection and adding new traffic signals; and replacing and upgrading utilities.
Traffic impacts: WIS 35 is expected to open to through traffic from Main Street to Laser Drive late next week.

• WIS 35 is closed to through traffic from Church Hill Road to Lagrandeur Road.
• Lanes on WIS 35 from County C to Dairy Queen are shifted to the north and have a 9-foot width restriction in both directions.

Highway: WIS 65
Location: I-94 westbound ramp to just south of Wagner Drive in Roberts
Schedule: April 3 to November
Cost: $6.47 million
Description: Expanding WIS 65 from two to four lanes from the I-94 westbound ramp terminal to about 1,200 feet north of 70th Avenue; installing turn lanes, traffic islands and new traffic signals at the 70th Avenue intersection; upgrading drainage; placing permanent signage and new pavement markings; and modifying the park and ride lot.
Traffic impacts: WIS 65 is closed through mid-October from the north side of 70^th Avenue to south of Wagner Drive. Motorists traveling north on WIS 65 can turn left or right at 70^th Avenue.

Highway: I-94
Location: Safety and weight enforcement facility (SWEF) off eastbound I-94 east of Hudson
Schedule: Sept. 12, 2022, to October 2023
Cost: $21.98 million
Description: Replacing the existing SWEF building with a modern one, reconstructing the parking lots and ramp/loop roadways and constructing an automated truck traffic monitoring system along eastbound I-94, a virtual weigh station along US 12 and an approximate 300-foot communications tower near the new building.
Traffic impacts: Motorists will encounter the following off-site impacts:

• Westbound I-94:
• There will be a continuous median shoulder closure with barrier wall until temporary widening of the eastbound median is removed later this summer.
• Eastbound I-94:
• There will be a continuous outside shoulder closure with barrier wall at the SWEF ramp locations until tie-in work is completed this summer.
• There will be a continuous left-lane closure in the three-lane portion of I-94 near the US 12 interchange and lane shift until temporary widening of the eastbound median is removed later this summer. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained during peak travel times.
• There will be continuous right and left shoulder closures at the temporary widening location just east of the US 12 interchange.
• There will be single-lane closures during off-peak hours.

Highway: I-94
Location: Rush River bridges west of Baldwin
Schedule: Sept. 7, 2021, to October 2023
Cost: $6.14 million
Description: Building temporary roadway and bridges to maintain four lanes of traffic on I-94; removing and replacing the existing east- and westbound I-94 bridges over the Rush River with structures wide enough to allow for an additional lane of traffic on I-94 when warranted, along with approach pavement; clearing and grubbing ditches; and installing storm sewer, signage, pavement marking, guardrail and fence.
Traffic impacts: Motorists will encounter the following lane closures for the coming week:

• Westbound I-94:
• 9 p.m. Sunday to 11 a.m. Monday.
• 6 p.m. Monday to noon Tuesday.
• 6 p.m. Tuesday to noon Wednesday.
• 6 p.m. Wednesday to 11 a.m. Thursday.
• 6 p.m. Thursday to 10 a.m. Friday.
• Eastbound I-94:
• 7 p.m. Sunday to 10 a.m. Monday.
• 6 p.m. Monday to 10 a.m. Tuesday.
• 6 p.m. Tuesday to 10 a.m. Wednesday.
• 6 p.m. Wednesday to 9 a.m. Thursday.
• 7 p.m. Thursday to 8 a.m. Friday.

Highway: I-94
Location: Carr Creek south of Woodville and County NN between County B and WIS 128
Schedule: July 19, 2021, to November 2023
Cost: $21.6 million
Description: Building temporary roadway and bridges to maintain four lanes of traffic on I-94; removing and replacing the existing east- and westbound I-94 bridges over Carr Creek and County NN with structures wide enough to allow for an additional lane of traffic on I-94 when warranted; constructing eastbound exit ramp and westbound entrance ramp bridges and realigning the ramps at the I-94-County B interchange; extending the north end of the existing box culvert at County NN; and completing grading operations, approach work, sign installation and pavement marking.
Traffic impacts: Motorists can expect to encounter the following lane closures on I-94 for the coming week on:

• Westbound I-94:
• 9 p.m. Sunday to 11 a.m. Monday.
• 6 p.m. Monday to 2 p.m. Tuesday.
• 6 p.m. Tuesday to noon Wednesday.
• 6 p.m. Wednesday to 11 a.m. Thursday.
• 6 p.m. Thursday to 10 a.m. Friday.
• Eastbound I-94:
• 6 p.m. Sunday to 9 a.m. Monday.
• 6 p.m. Monday to 9 a.m. Tuesday.
• 6 p.m. Tuesday to 9 a.m. Wednesday.
• 6 p.m. Wednesday to 9 a.m. Thursday.
• 7 p.m. Thursday to 8 a.m. Friday.

Taylor County
Highway: Highway O
Location: South Gibson Street to WIS 13 in Medford
Schedule: July 10 to late October
Cost: $337,849
Description: Reconstructing the roadway; replacing storm sewer, curb, gutter and guardrail; and placing permanent signage and new pavement markings.
Traffic impacts: County O is closed, but:

• Access is being maintained for local and emergency traffic.
• Through traffic is being detoured via WIS 64 and County Q.
• Industrial park traffic is being detoured via Progressive Avenue, Jensen Drive and South Gibson Street.

Highway: WIS 13
Location: Perkins to Clark streets, city of Medford
Schedule: Aug. 21 to October
Cost: $995,230
Description: Removing and replacing traffic signals and equipment, installing pedestrian push buttons and replacing sidewalk curb ramps.
Traffic impacts: Temporary traffic signals are controlling traffic. Construction will be staged to allow at least a single lane of traffic to always be open.

Trempealeau County
Highway: WIS 35
Location: La Crosse County line to 10^th Street in the village of Trempealeau
Schedule: May 22 to August
Cost: $4.89 million
Description: Removing a portion of the existing pavement in the urban section and placing new asphalt; removing a portion of the existing pavement in the rural section, recycling and relaying it and placing new asphalt; cleaning, lining and replacing culverts as needed; upgrading sidewalk curb ramps; replacing water valves and hydrants in the village of Trempealeau; and installing centerline and shoulder rumble strips in the rural portion of the project.
Traffic impacts: None; project complete.

Highway: WIS 35/54, WIS 54/93 and US 53
Location: Buffalo/Trempealeau County line to WIS 93; WIS 93 to Winnebago Road; and Harris Road to the south Trempealeau County line
Schedule: May 30 to late October
Cost: $10.65 million
Description: Removing a portion of the existing pavement and placing new asphalt; repairing concrete pavement and overlaying it with new asphalt; installing a Through Route Activated Warning System (TRAWS) at WIS 54/93 and County T/K; repairing or replacing culvert pipes under US 53 and WIS 54; repairing four box culverts; repairing or replacing guardrail; and adding centerline and shoulder rumble strips.
Traffic impacts: Motorists will encounter single-lane closures controlled by flagging and shoulder closures as work is completed.

Highway: WIS 93
Location: Trout Creek Bridge south of Eleva
Schedule: June 29 to November
Cost: $1.43 million
Description: Replacing the bridge, pavement on both sides of the structure and guardrail and placing new pavement markings.
Traffic impacts: Motorists will encounter a single lane of traffic controlled by temporary traffic signals.

Highway: I-94
Location: County NN north of Osseo to the east county line
Schedule: July 18, 2022, to November 2024
Cost: $23.69 million
Description: Removing and replacing existing east- and westbound I-94 and I-94/US 10 interchange ramp concrete pavement, adding right-turn lanes at the I-94/US 10 interchange in Osseo and completing a polymer/chip seal on the US 10 bridge over I-94.
Traffic impacts: I-94 is open to two lanes of traffic in each direction, but motorists might encounter single-lane closures during off-peak travel times.

• Eastbound I-94 traffic is operating on temporary lanes built in 2022.
• Eastbound ramp traffic at the I-94/US 10 interchange are using temporary ramps until the permanent ramps are completed in late August.

Washburn County
Highway: WIS 70
Location: Yellow River culvert east of the city of Spooner
Schedule: Aug. 7 to October
Cost: $1.13 million
Description: Removing and replacing the existing culvert, replacing the pavement on both sides of the structure and placing new pavement markings and signage.
Traffic: The road is closed, with traffic detoured via US 53 and US 63.

Highway: Northbound US 53
Location: Business 53 on the south side of Minong to Lakeside Road
Schedule: July 17 to late September
Cost: $2.32 million
Description: Repairing or replacing concrete pavement, resurfacing the existing asphalt shoulders, refreshing the existing gravel shoulders, cleaning or repairing culverts, placing shoulder rumble strips and updating pavement markings.
Traffic: Northbound US 53 is reduced to a single lane.

Highway: US 53
Location: Pine Grove Road southeast of Shell Lake to Wildcat Road southeast of Spooner
Schedule: Aug. 15, 2022, to October 2023
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: One lane of traffic in each direction is being maintained on the northbound lanes.

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: Motorists will encounter single-lane weekday closures.

Regionwide Pavement Marking Project
Highway: Various
Location: Various
Schedule: March 8 to October
Cost: $909,337
Description: Replacing epoxy highway paint pavement markings on highways across the region.
Traffic impacts: Motorists will encounter lane closures controlled by flagging where painting operations are occurring.