Northwest WI Regional Construction Update - Sept. 2, 2022

This week’s updates from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) on road construction projects for Barron, Burnett, Polk, Rusk, Sawyer, and Washburn counties.

Barron County

Highway: US 53 northbound

• Location: Chippewa County line to US 8 near Cameron
• Schedule: April 4 to October
• Cost: $11.55 million
• Description: Removing a portion of the existing asphalt overlay and placing new asphalt; completing spot repairs on structures at Carlson School Road, County AA, the Chetek River, County I, Knapp Street, 20th Street and US 8 and placing a concrete overlay on each of the structures; replacing the concrete deck on the structure at County A; cleaning culverts and ditches; replacing culvert apron end walls, guardrail, pavement markings and signage; and completing spot improvements at Rest Area 34 and overlaying all concrete parking areas with asphalt.
• Traffic impacts:
  • Motorists can expect single-lane closures in work areas.
    • The speed limit within each work zone is 60 mph.
  • Flagging will be utilized as necessary on the roads underneath the bridge structures at County I and US 8.

Highway: WIS 48

• Location: WIS 25 to West Avenue in Rice Lake
• Schedule: July 25 to late September
• Cost: $2.31 million
• Description: Removing a portion of the existing pavement and placing new asphalt; replacing and maintaining culverts; and adding a right-turn lane for westbound traffic on WIS 48 turning onto northbound County V.
• Traffic impacts:
  • During work hours, motorists will encounter single-lane closures controlled by flagging in work areas.

Highway: 5th Street

• Location: Vance Creek Bridge
• Schedule: July 11 to September
• Cost: $388,700
• Description: Replacing the bridge.
• Traffic impacts:
  • None; project complete.

Polk County

Highway: US 63

• Location: County J southwest of the village of Clayton to US 8 in Turtle Lake
• Schedule: May 31 to September
• Cost: $3.94 million
• Description: Recycling a portion of the existing pavement, relaying it and placing new asphalt over it and rehabilitating or replacing culverts.
• Traffic impacts:
  • None.

Highway: WIS 46

• Location: WIS 64 in the St. Croix County town of Cylon to Snow Street in the Polk County city of Amery
• Schedule: July 5 to late September
• Cost: $7.02 million
• Description: Removing a portion of the existing pavement and placing new asphalt pavement; widening the existing shoulder and installing rumble strips; rehabilitating a box culvert north of Deer Park and other smaller culverts to maintain drainage; upgrading guardrail; and placing new pavement markings.
• Traffic impacts:
  • Motorists will encounter single-lane closures controlled by flagging at work areas during work hours.

Rusk County

Highway: WIS 27

• Location: Flambeau River Bridge in Ladysmith
• Schedule: Aug. 22 to late October
• Cost: $435,741
• Description: Making concrete surface repairs to the bridge and replacing the concrete approach slabs, removing the asphaltic roadway pavement on both sides of the structure and placing new asphalt pavement, replacing the bridge joints and cleaning and painting the bearings.
• Traffic impacts:
  • WIS 27 is open to two lanes of traffic with width restrictions.
  • Truck traffic is being detoured via US 8, WIS 73 and WIS 64

Sawyer County

Highway: Tag Alder Road

• Location: Namekagon River Bridge, town of Lenroot
• Schedule: July 18 to mid-September
• Cost: $566,185
• Description: Replacing the bridge.
• Traffic impacts:
  • Tag Alder Road is closed at the bridge.

Washburn County

Highway: US 53

• Location: Between Mackey and Ross roads in the town of Trego
• Schedule: March 17, 2021, to November 2022
• Cost: $17.65 million
• Description: Reconstructing US 53 from Mackey Road to existing US 63, relocating US 63 to closely follow the existing Wild Rivers State Trail and constructing a new grade separated interchange connecting US 53 with realigned US 63, new west frontage road from Mackey Road to County E and turn lanes along US 53 at existing intersections, including Mackey, O’Brien and Ross roads.
• Traffic impacts:
  • Traffic on US 53 is reduced to one lane in each direction on the southbound lanes.
    • Temporary signals are in operation at the US 53 intersection at US 63 and Liesch Road.
    • The speed limit on US 53 is reduced from 65 mph to 55 mph and on US 63 is reduced from 55 mph to 45 mph in the work zone.

Highway: US 53

• Location: Pine Grove Road southeast of Shell Lake to Wildcat Road southeast of Spooner
• Schedule: Aug. 15, 2022, to September 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: For the week of Sept. 6, the inside lanes will be closed.

Highway: US 63

• Location: Greenwood Avenue to Poplar Street, Spooner
• Schedule: March 28 to November
• Cost: $8.2 million
• Description: Reconstructing US 63 from WIS 70 to Poplar Street with new pavement, sidewalk, curb and gutter; reconstructing the US 63/WIS 70 intersection; rehabilitating US 63 from Greenwood Avenue to WIS 70 by milling the existing asphalt and overlaying the road with new asphalt; converting 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; installing new sanitary and storm sewer and water main; improving pedestrian access to meet current Americans With Disabilities Act standards at intersections; and installing new street lighting, pavement marking and signing.
• Traffic impacts:
  • US 63 is closed north of WIS 70 to Poplar Street.
    • Traffic is being detoured via WIS 70 and US 53.
    • During construction, alleys and cross streets will be kept open as much as possible.

Highway: WIS 70

• Location: US 53 to the south junction of County M east of Spooner
• Schedule: May 2 to late September
• Cost: $4.82 million
• Description: Recycling a portion of the existing pavement and resurfacing the road; replacing culverts; and placing new pavement markings.
• Traffic impacts:
  • WIS 70 is closed, and traffic is being detoured via US 53, County B and the south leg of County M.