Northwest Region Construction Update - September 29

Release date: September 29, 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 East Tyler Avenue and East Butler Road.
• 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: None; project complete.

Barron County
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 October - Updated
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. It is expected to reopen to traffic by the end of next week.

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: Motorists will encounter single-lane closures, and the speed limit will be reduced to 55 mph when lanes are closed.

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 late October
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: Crews are expected to remove the three sets of temporary traffic signals on Monday, Oct. 2. Motorists will encounter single-lane closures controlled by flaggers once milling begins on Tuesday, Oct. 3.

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: US 53
Location: County OO Bridge in Lake Hallie
Schedule: Sept. 5 to November
Cost: $384,382
Description: Removing a portion of the bridge deck and a damaged girder, installing a new girder and replacing the bridge deck removed for the project.
Traffic impacts: During construction, most work will be completed using lane closures on US 53 and County OO. However, northbound US 53 will be closed overnight for up to three nights, and eastbound County OO can be closed for up to 10 consecutive days.

• Both eastbound lanes of County OO are closed but will reopen to traffic by 5 p.m. today.
• Eastbound County OO traffic needing to cross the bridge will be detoured via southbound US 53 to the Melby Street interchange to northbound US 53 to the exit ramp at the County OO interchange.
• The westbound lanes on County OO and interchange ramps remain open.
• In addition, motorists might encounter single-lane closures on US 53 between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. if necessary for public safety.
• Northbound US 53 will be closed to traffic from 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4 to 5 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 5 at the Melby Street interchange, so forms can be stripped from the deck of the bridge carrying County OO over US 53. In addition, the outside, or passing, lane of southbound US 53 will be closed before and after the US 53/County OO interchange.
• Northbound US 53 traffic will be detoured via the Melby Street and Business 29 interchanges, with northbound US 53 traffic exiting at the Melby Street interchange and following Melby Street west to Business 53 to WIS 124 to Business 29 (West River Street) and back to northbound US 53.

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 periodic single-lane closures controlled by flagging when work is occurring.

Dunn County
Highway: WIS 79
Location: Bridges over Coon and Clack creeks between Menomonie and Boyceville
Schedule: Aug. 28 to 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.

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 but will fully reopen to traffic next week. 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 mid-October 2023 (Updated)
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 on I-94 during off-peak travel times, and the maximum width on eastbound lanes over the WIS 312/County EE bridge is 9 feet.

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: Motorists will encounter a single lane of traffic at the bridge controlled by temporary traffic signals.

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: None; project complete.

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: Motorists will encounter single-lane closures during non-peak travel times.

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 will encounter:

• Lane closure on northbound US 63.
• Closure of the US 63 exit ramp.
• Motorists heading north or south on WIS 35 can expect delays because of the ramp closure.
• Traffic on WIS 35 is reduced to a single lane.

Polk County
Highway: County K
Location: Branch Wapogasset River 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: 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 daytime lane closures controlled by flagging.

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 will encounter lane closures controlled by flagging and temporary signals.

St. Croix County
Highway: Powell Avenue
Location: Kinnickinnic River Bridge, River Falls
Schedule: Aug. 8 to 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: From County C to the Daily Queen driveway:

• Southbound WIS 35 traffic is operating on the new concrete.
• Northbound WIS 35 traffic is shifted to a temporary lane to the north.
• There is a 9-foot width restriction in both directions.
• Northbound WIS 35 will be closed from 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5 to 6 a.m. Friday, Oct. 6 from Lagrandeur Road to the Dairy Queen driveway east of the Church Hill Road/Main Street intersection, and traffic will be detoured via Lagrandeur Road, Lemire Street, SMC Drive and Laser Drive.

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- to late October from the north side of 70th Avenue to south of Wagner Drive. Motorists traveling north on WIS 65 can turn left or right at 70th Avenue.

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 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 year.
• 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 later this year.
• 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 year. 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 can expect to encounter single-lane closures on eastbound I-94 for the coming week from:

• 6 p.m. Monday to 2 p.m. Tuesday.
• 6 p.m. Tuesday to 2 p.m. Wednesday.
• 6 p.m. Wednesday to 11 a.m. Thursday.

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

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: East 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: Lane closure for south- and northbound driving lane from Clark to East Perkins streets anticipated to remain in place until Tuesday. In addition, there is a 12-foot lane width restriction.

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: Motorists will encounter single-lane closures controlled by flagging and shoulder closures.

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 October
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.

Highway: Northbound US 53
Location: Business 53 on the south side of Minong to Lakeside Road
Schedule: July 17 to early October - Updated
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: Motorists will encounter single-lane closures in both directions.

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 closures in certain segments in both directions.

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.