Latest News
Nov. 14, 2024
Northwest Region Construction Update
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: Prentice Avenue
Location: 11th Street East to 6th Street East, city of Ashland
Schedule: Aug. 5 to late October
Cost: $1.75 million
Description: Reconstructing 0.35 mile of roadway; replacing storm sewer and road base; placing new asphalt pavement; replacing curb, gutter, select segment of sidewalk and sidewalk curb ramps; removing and planting trees; and placing new pavement markings and permanent signs.
Traffic impacts: None; construction in 2024 is complete. Paving will be completed in spring 2025.
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Barron and Washburn counties
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: Traffic on US 53 is limited to a single lane in each direction.
- The speed limit is reduced to 55 mph in the work zone.
- US 53 is scheduled to fully reopen to traffic the evening of Friday, Nov. 15.
- The high-friction surface treatment between 26th and 27th avenues will be completed in spring 2025.
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Bayfield County
Highway: WIS 13
Location: Thompson Creek to 2nd Avenue West, city of Washburn
Schedule: March 11 to November
Cost: $8.32 million
Description: Replacing the pavement on WIS 13 and storm sewer, curb, gutter and sidewalk; replacing or upgrading all intersection curb ramps to meet Americans With Disabilities Act standards; and replacing streetlights. In addition, the city has a concurrent project replacing aging sewer and water utilities.
Traffic impacts: WIS 13 is closed to traffic from Thompson Road/Charles Street to 1st Avenue West.
- The roadway will reopen to traffic by the end of the day, Friday, Nov. 15.
- Motorists might encounter lane closures as finishing work is completed the week of Nov. 18.
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Chippewa County
Highway: 240th Street
Location: Paint Creek Bridge between 30th and 40th Avenues southwest of Cadott
Schedule: Sept. 3 to early November
Cost: $516,115
Description: Replacing the bridge, approach pavement on either side and pavement markings.
Traffic impacts: The bridge has reopened to traffic.
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Highway: US 53
Location: 40th Avenue in Lake Hallie to County B in the town of Tilden
Schedule: April 1 to late June 2026
Cost: $36.6 million
Description: Replacing the pavement on north- and southbound US 53, the ramps at the Business 29/County X, County S and County B interchanges and the crossroads between ramp terminals along County S and County B; completing polymer overlays on the four bridges over the Chippewa River and Business 29/County X; replacing guardrail and right-of-way fence; maintaining culverts through cleaning and making end repairs and replacing one cross culvert; repairing erosion on the east side of a box culvert that carries Tilden Creek south of County B; and installing a high-friction surface treatment on the pavement near the Business 29/County X interchange on US 53 to reduce run-off-the-road and out-of-control crashes, plantings for snow fence to minimize snow drifting at four locations, new pavement markings and shoulder rumble strips.
Traffic impacts: Motorists will encounter intermittent inside lane closures on north- and southbound US 53 near County N, but the highway will fully reopen to traffic by the end of the day, Friday, Nov. 15.
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Clark County
Highway: Kington Road
Location: Nelson Creek Bridge north of the city of Loyal
Schedule: Oct. 30 to late November
Cost: $336,867
Description: Replacing the bridge, approach pavement and pavement markings.
Traffic impacts: Kington Road is closed at the bridge.
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Highway: Mann Road
Location: North Branch O’Neill Creek Bridge south of Loyal
Schedule: Oct. 9 to late November
Cost: $300,734
Description: Replacing the bridge, approach pavement and pavement markings.
Traffic impacts: Mann Road is closed from County K to Sparrow Avenue.
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Highway: Romadka Avenue
Location: Middle Branch O’Neill Creek Bridge north of Granton
Schedule: Oct. 7 to late November
Cost: $383,723
Description: Replacing the bridge, approach pavement and pavement markings.
Traffic impacts: Romadka Avenue is closed at the bridge.
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Highway: Starks Road
Location: South Fork Eau Claire River Bridge northwest of Greenwood
Schedule: Sept. 9 to late November
Cost: $585,646
Description: Replacing the bridge, approach pavement and pavement markings.
Traffic impacts: Starks Road is closed at the bridge.
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Douglas County
Highway: County C
Location: Minnesota state line to Barnes Road southwest of the village of Oliver
Schedule: Oct. 16, 2024, to Oct. 1, 2025
Cost: $5.1 million
Description: Reconstructing the existing roadway with new asphalt, making railroad crossing improvements, realigning the County C/W intersection and installing culverts and pavement markings.
Traffic impacts: County C will be closed daily for culvert installations, which are expected to be completed mid- to late week the week of Nov. 18.
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Highway: WIS 105
Location: Minnesota state line to WIS 35 in the city of Superior
Schedule: Aug. 29 to spring 2025
Cost: $4.18 million
Description: Mitigating water bubbling though the pavement near the bridge over the St. Louis River by constructing a French drain in the ditch line; repairing the settlement area at the Little Pokegama River by excavating 15 feet to 19 feet below the existing road surface, adding a pipe underdrain system to allow water to flow out of the slope and placing a four-foot gravel layer, which will then be covered by granular backfill to the bottom of the new pavement structure; repairing the slope 1,700 feet west of the river by constructing a drainage trench filled with a pipe underdrain system to allow water to flow out of the slope, installing sheet pile at the bottom of the slope to prevent sliding and rebuilding the slope with soils less susceptible to failure; repairing “sliver fill” (thin layer of new soils placed over existing soils) failure across from Billings Drive by constructing a “stability trench” in the shoulder of the road; making culvert repairs in spot locations; upgrading and modernizing select sidewalk curb ramp slopes; removing and replacing curb and gutter in the village of Oliver; removing and replacing guardrail at the Oliver Bridge and County W; and resurfacing the roadway.
Traffic impacts: Motorists might encounter an intermittent lane or shoulder closure as finishing work for 2024 is completed.
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Dunn County
Highway: I-94
Location: Safety and Weight Enforcement Facility (SWEF) on westbound I-94 east of Menomonie
Schedule: March 19 to November
Cost: $10.95 million
Description: Renovating and expanding the existing SWEF building; replacing the pavement in the parking lots and on the ramp/loop roadways; constructing an approximate 200-foot communications tower near the renovated SWEF building; reconfiguring the exit off I-94; constructing a new virtual weigh station along westbound US 12/WIS 29 west of the I-94 interchange; and constructing a remote truck pull-off site along County B south of I-94 between Walton Avenue and 3M Drive in Dunn County. (The pull-off site will be constructed concurrently with a reconstruction project scheduled to start April 1 on County B from US 12/WIS 29 to the eastbound I-94 entrance and exit ramps at the I-94/County B interchange.)
Traffic impacts: The ramp off westbound I-94 to the SWEF is closed through November. Other impacts include:
- I-94 west- and eastbound:
- The inside shoulder is closed.
- Motorists also will encounter lane closures during off-peak travel times through mid-November.
- US 12:
- Motorists are expected to encounter lane closures controlled by flagging on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at the I-94/US 12/WIS 29 interchange.
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Eau Claire County
Highway: WIS 93
Location: Bridges over I-94 in Eau Claire
Schedule: July 29 to early-November
Cost: $1.04 million
Description: On the southbound bridge: replacing the bridge joints; making repairs to the bridge deck and diaphragm; overlaying the bridge deck with concrete; replacing the concrete approaches on both ends of the structure; and completing fiber wrapping of bridge piers. On the northbound bridge: replacing both north wing walls; making repairs to the bridge deck and sidewalk; replacing the concrete approaches on both ends of the structure; and completing fiber wrapping of bridge piers.
Traffic impacts: None; project complete.
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Highway: I-94
Location: US 53 interchange to Mallard Road southwest of Eau Claire
Schedule: March 4, 2024, to November 2026
Cost: $69.9 million
Description: Removing and replacing the pavement on I-94 from Otter Creek to Mallard Road; resurfacing the shoulders and completing concrete pavement repair on I-94 and collector roads from the western project limits to Otter Creek; resurfacing the I-94/US 53 interchange, the approaching pavement on US 53 and the interchange ramps; widening the eastbound I-94 bridge over Otter Creek; removing and replacing the east- and westbound bridges over County D and County J with structures that meet vertical clearance requirements and are wide enough to handle future four-lane temporary traffic; removing and replacing a box culvert near County D; repairing storm sewer; and placing new pavement markings.
Traffic impacts: Motorists will encounter single-lane closures on I-94 in both directions and a reduced speed limit of 55 mph during nonpeak travel times.
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Pierce County
Highway: South Wasson Lane
Location: Just north of WIS 29/35 to East Cascade Avenue in River Falls
Schedule: July 22 to late October
Cost: $4.05 million
Description: Reconstructing South Wasson Lane, building a single-lane roundabout with sidewalk at the intersection of South Wasson Lane and East Cascade Avenue, reconstructing the shared-use path along the west side of South Wasson Lane, replacing curb, gutter and storm sewer; and installing streetlights.
Traffic impacts: South Wasson Lane is closed to through traffic from WIS 29 (Cemetery Road) to East Cascade Avenue.
- Traffic is being detoured via WIS 29 (Cemetery Road), WIS 65 and East Cascade Avenue.
- The roundabout is open to traffic, except for the south leg.
- The roadway is expected to fully reopen to traffic the week of Nov. 18.
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Highway: WIS 35
Location: Between Chestnut and Green streets in Maiden Rock
Schedule: April 29 to November
Cost: $3.28 million
Description: Replacing retaining walls at W3338 WIS 35 and W3487 WIS 35, removing a portion of the existing roadway pavement and overlay it with asphalt; replacing curb and gutter; installing a railing at W3338 WIS 35; and placing new pavement markings.
Traffic impacts: Motorists will encounter single-lane closures controlled by temporary traffic signals, but the roadway will fully reopen to traffic Friday, Nov. 15.
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Highway: US 10
Location: WIS 29/35 in Prescott to the south junction of US 63 west of Ellsworth
Schedule: March 11 to October
Cost: $14.35 million
Description: Removing a portion of the existing pavement on the approximate 14-mile stretch of US 10 and placing new asphalt pavement; widening paved shoulders from 3 feet to 5 feet; replacing culverts at Spring Creek on US 10 just west of the 760th Street and 730th Street intersections west of Ellsworth; replacing existing box culverts on US 10 with bridges just east of 1040th Street and west of Cross Town Road; and replacing guardrail and pavement markings along the entire length of the project.
Traffic impacts: Motorists might encounter single-lane closures as finishing work is completed.
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St. Croix County
Highway: County A
Location: McCutcheon Road northwest of Hudson
Schedule: Sept. 3 to early November
Cost: $1.3 million
Description: Constructing a roundabout; installing concrete curb, gutter and sidewalk; installing storm sewer and culvert pipes; and installing lighting, new pavement markings and signage.
Traffic impacts: None; project complete.
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Highway: I-94
Location: Bridges over Kinney Road and 100th Street between Roberts and Hudson
Schedule: Sept. 9, 2024, to mid-October 2026
Cost: $20.08 million
Description: Replacing the bridges, with the westbound bridges replaced in 2025 and eastbound structures in 2026; replacing 1,000 to 1,200 feet of the I-94 pavement on both sides of structures in both directions; installing storm sewer; and replacing guardrail and pavement markings.
Traffic impacts: Motorists will encounter intermittent left lane and shoulder closures on I-94 in both directions between exit 4 (US 12 and County U) and exit 10 (WIS 65).
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Sawyer County
Highway: County C
Location: Couderay River Bridge west of the village of Couderay
Schedule: Aug. 12 to November
Cost: $874,296
Description: Removing and replacing the bridge deck.
Traffic impacts: None; project complete.
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Trempealeau County
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: The inside lanes of east- and westbound I-94 will be closed from 6 a.m. Monday, Nov. 11 to 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 15.
- Crews are expected to start removing traffic control this week, but motorists might encounter lane closures if work stretches into next week.