Northwest Region Construction Update - November 3

​Release date: November 3, 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: WIS 13 is reopening to traffic today. However, motorists might encounter lane closures controlled by flagging as finishing work is completed.

Barron and Washburn counties
Highway: US 53
Location: 26th Avenue north of Rice Lake to Pine Grove Road south of Sarona
Schedule: Sept. 5 to October 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 friction surface on the pavement in the same area to reduce crossover crashes.
Traffic impacts: None; work is 2023 is complete and will resume in spring 2024.

Buffalo County
Highway: WIS 25
Location: Minnesota state line to 100 feet south of its southern intersection with WIS 35 in the village of Nelson
Schedule: Sept. 6 to early November (Updated)
Cost: $2.22 million
Description: Removing a portion of the existing pavement and placing new asphalt pavement, adding centerline and shoulder rumble strips, adjusting guardrail, completing bridge approach work and placing new pavement markings.
Traffic impacts: Motorists might encounter daytime single-lane closures controlled by flaggers as finishing work is completed.

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 might encounter periodic single-lane closures as finishing work is completed.

Highway: Northbound US 2/53
Location: Northwest of the intersection of US 2 and US 53 in the town of Amnicon
Schedule: Oct. 23 to November; if necessary, the work might be completed in 2024.
Cost: $623,268
Description: Placing liners in two culverts to restore proper drainage.
Traffic impacts: None, but motorists will encounter single-lane closures once work resumes later this year or in summer 2024.

Dunn County
Highway: WIS 79
Location: Bridges over Coon and Clack creeks between Menomonie and Boyceville
Schedule: Aug. 28 to late November
Cost: $2.07 million
Description: Removing and replacing the bridges, roadway pavement on both sides of the structures, guardrail, signage and pavement markings.
Traffic impacts: WIS 79 is closed to through traffic, with motorists detoured via WIS 170, WIS 25 and US 12.

Jackson County
Highway: WIS 71/108
Location: Bridges over the Black River south of Melrose
Schedule: Sept. 27 to November
Cost: $244,314
Description: Replacing the bridge joints and reinforcing the bridge abutments.
Traffic impacts: None; finishing work is expected to be completed today.

Highway: I-94
Location: Bridges over the Black River in the city of Black River Falls and the Union Pacific railroad tracks in the town of Brockway
Schedule: Sept. 5 to October 2025
Cost: $5.2 million
Description: Bridges over the Black River: Overlaying both bridge decks with concrete, repairing abutment backwalls and replacing the bridge joints and concrete approach slabs. Bridges over the railroad tracks: Overlaying the eastbound bridge deck with concrete and replacing the deck on the westbound bridge, replacing the pier caps and concrete approach slabs and repainting girders.
Traffic impacts: None; work is complete for 2023 and will resume in spring 2024.

Pierce County
Highway: WIS 35
Location: Just south of the US 63 intersection in the unincorporated community of Hager City
Schedule: Sept. 11 to November
Cost: $1.06 million
Description: Replacing the existing metal culvert system with new concrete pipes, manholes, inlets and an apron end wall at the outlet; replacing the pavement in the work zone and guardrail; and placing new pavement markings.
Traffic impacts: Motorists might encounter lane closures as finishing work is completed.

Polk County
Highway: County K
Location: Branch Wapogasset Bridge west of Amery
Schedule: Sept. 12 to November
Cost: $595,977
Description: Replacing the bridge.
Traffic impacts: County K is closed from WIS 65 to County P, and traffic is being detoured via WIS 65, County F and County P.

Rusk County
Highway: US 8
Location: Old 8 Road/East 16th 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 might encounter lane closures as finishing work is completed.  

St. Croix County
Highway: Powell Avenue
Location: Kinnickinnic River Bridge, River Falls
Schedule: Aug. 8 to November (Updated)
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: Motorists might encounter lanes width restrictions of nine feet between County C and Church Hill Road.

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: Motorists might encounter lane closures as finishing work is completed.

Highway: I-94
Location: Safety and weight enforcement facility (SWEF) off eastbound I-94 east of Hudson
Schedule: Sept. 12, 2022, to late 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 on eastbound I-94 will encounter the following off-site impacts:

• There is a continuous outside shoulder closure at the SWEF ramp locations.
• There is a continuous right-lane closure in the three-lane portion of I-94 near the US 12 interchange. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained during peak travel times.
• There are continuous right and left shoulder closures at the temporary widening location just east of the US 12 interchange.

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 can expect to encounter single-lane closures on eastbound I-94 for the coming week from:

• 6 p.m. Sunday to 10 a.m. Monday.
• 5 p.m. Monday to 2 p.m. Tuesday.
• 5 p.m. Tuesday to 2 p.m. Wednesday.
• 5 p.m. Wednesday to 11 a.m. Thursday.
• 5 p.m. Thursday to 9 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 intermittent lane closures as finishing work is completed.

Trempealeau County
Highway: County D
Location: French Creek Bridge southeast of Arcadia
Schedule: Sept. 5 to November
Cost: $771,232
Description: Replacing the bridge.
Traffic impacts: County D is closed at the bridge.

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: None; project complete.

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.

Washburn County
Highway: WIS 70
Location: Yellow River culvert east of the city of Spooner
Schedule: Aug. 7 to November - Updated
Cost: $1.13 million
Description: Removing the existing culvert, constructing a bridge, 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; however, WIS 70 is expected to reopen to traffic by the end of next week.

Highway: US 53
Location: Pine Grove Road southeast of Shell Lake to Wildcat Road southeast of Spooner
Schedule: Aug. 15, 2022, to November 2023 (Updated)
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: US 53 will fully reopen to traffic by the end of the day.