Southeast Region weekly construction update

November 6, 2009

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is providing a weekly update on road construction in Southeast Wisconsin, which includes the counties of Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha.

Construction-related traffic impact exists in the locations listed below. Closures listed are subject to change and are weather-dependent. 

Kenosha County

WIS 31 (Green Bay Road)
Location: WIS 50 (75th Street) intersection, WIS 158 (52nd Street) intersection and 45th Street intersection
Schedule: July 27 - Nov. 24, 2009
Length: 0.62 miles
Cost: $1.9 million
Type of work: Convert the WIS 31 existing two through-lanes with mandatory right-turn only lanes at its WIS 50 and WIS 158 intersections to three continuous northbound and southbound through-lanes. Reconfigure the existing WIS 31 left-turn lanes at these intersections and at other nearby median openings for reducing collisions. Project improvements include:

• Replace existing traffic signals with temporary and new permanent signals at the WIS 50 and WIS 158 intersections.
• Install a new traffic signal at the 45th Street intersection.
• Modify existing storm sewer system.
• Extend and reconfigure turn lanes within the existing highway right-of-way.
• New signing/striping.

Traffic impact: All intersection approaches will remain open to traffic during construction.

• October - November: The three northbound and southbound WIS 31 lanes will remain reduced at two lanes for median work in the vicinities of the three intersections. The intersections’ new right-turn lanes will remain open to traffic. Left-turn lanes must be shortened temporarily while existing left-turn lanes and WIS 31 median areas are reconstructed. This construction stage is in effect at the WIS 50 (75th Street) intersection and is currently anticipated to begin by Saturday, Oct. 24 at the WIS 158 (52nd Street) intersection and 45th Street intersection. 

WIS 50 (75th Street)
Location: Intersection of County B
Schedule: July 20 - Nov. 16, 2009
Length: 0.24 miles
Cost: $1.7 million
Type of work: Project improvements include:

• Improved left turn lanes on both WIS 50 and County B
• Traffic signal and intersection lighting
• Pavement markings and traffic signs

Traffic impact: WIS 50 will be open to traffic during construction. One lane of traffic in each direction will be kept open at all times.

• September - November: Right lanes on WIS 50 will be closed. County B will be closed to all traffic south of WIS 50. County B between WIS 50 and 73rd Place will be closed to all traffic. Access to County B north of WIS 50 will be from County K.

Milwaukee County

  Up-to-date lane and ramp closures on the Milwaukee-area freeway system

WIS 18 (West Bluemound Road)
Location: North Mayfair Road to Zoo Freeway
Schedule: September - November 2009
Length: 0.6 mile
Cost: $1.0 million
Type of work: Mill and overlay with pavement marking and signing
Traffic impact: Staged construction and one lane will be kept open in each direction during construction.

WIS 241 (S. 27th Street)
Location: Drexel Avenue to south Milwaukee County line 
Schedule: July 27 - Nov. 15, 2009
Length: 3.91 miles
Cost: $4,398,011
Type of work: Mill and resurface S. 27th Street. Apply a thin epoxy overlay on bridge over the Root River. Improvements to signal loops at W. Puetz Road and W. Ryan Road. Driveway and median opening removals will occur for safety improvements. New signing and beam guard end treatments.
Traffic impact: The roadway will remain open during construction; however, traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction.

WIS 24 (Forest Home Avenue)
Location: US 45 to 45th Street 
Schedule: June 22 - Dec. 1, 2009 and May 1 - June 25, 2010
Length: 5.3 miles
Cost: $14,755,162
Type of work: Mill and resurface Forest Home Avenue. Replace the seven existing signals with new signals; minor intersection upgrades to turn lanes. Overlay the Root River bridge and Honey Creek bridge. Re-deck the three structures over I-894/I-43.
Traffic impact: Forest Home Avenue will be constructed under traffic in stages. One lane will remain open in each direction at all times. Off-peak lane closures will be taken on I-894/I-43 during the bridge re-decks. The I-894/I-43 westbound off-ramp will be detoured during Stage 1 construction.

WIS 24
Location: West Forest Home Avenue Bridge (over the KK River)
Schedule: Late May - November 2009
Length: 1.76 miles
Cost: $2.1 million
Type of work: Bridge replacement
Traffic impact: Two-way traffic in each direction will be opened during construction.

US 45
Location: Hampton Avenue over US 45 
Schedule: August 17 - Nov. 25, 2009
Length: Under one mile
Cost: $1,325,866
Type of work: Painting and overlay of bridge on Hampton Avenue over US 45. Traffic signal replacement at northbound US 45 ramps and Hampton Avenue.  
Traffic impact:

• Hampton Avenue single lane closure for duration of project.
• Northbound off-ramp from US 45 left turn lanes will be reduced to one lane for duration of project.
• US 45 single lane closure allowed 8 to 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 6 to 9 a.m., Saturday through Sunday.
• US 45 two lane closure allowed, 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., Friday through Saturday.

WIS 57 (North Green Bay Avenue)
Location: Marne Drive to Good Hope Road
Schedule: June - November 2009
Length: 1.9 miles
Cost: $2.9 million
Type of work: Pavement milling and resurfacing, intersection improvements, sewer structures, concrete curb and gutter, sidewalk, pavement marking, signs, lighting, and traffic signals.
Traffic impact: One lane of traffic in each direction will be open during construction. Drivers are encouraged to watch for changing traffic patterns and motorists are advised to seek alternative routes when possible.

WIS 100 (Mayfair Road)
Location: Watertown Plank Road to Walnut Road
Schedule: July 20, 2009 - June 30, 2010
Length: 0.45 miles
Cost: $5.1 million
Type of work: The Mayfair Road Bridge project consists of milling and replacing asphalt pavement, storm sewer, erosion control, pavement marking, signing, lighting, traffic control and various rehabilitation items of the bridge including concrete pavement repair and structure repainting.
Traffic impact: Stage 1, with completion in late November, will provide two lanes for south bound traffic and one lane for north bound traffic on the south bound bridge. There will a signed alternate route provided for north bound traffic. Stage 2 will commence in Spring 2010 and will provide two lanes for south bound traffic and one lane for north bound traffic on the north bound bridge. Stage 3 will provide two lanes for north and south bound traffic from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Possible night work could be expected during this stage. Access to commercial entrances will be provided throughout the duration of the project.

WIS 100 (Brown Deer Road)
Location: WIS 57 (Green Bay Road) - I-43
Schedule: April 6 - Nov. 24, 2009
Length: 2.02 miles
Cost: $5.7 million
Type of work: Remove and reconstruct existing concrete pavement. This reconstructed six-lane highway will include new on-road bike accommodations along its outside lanes in both directions. Project improvements include:

• Replacing existing traffic signals with temporary and new permanent signals at the Kildeer Court and Range Line Road intersections.
• Modifying existing storm sewer system.
• Reconfiguring turn lanes within the existing highway right-of-way.
• Adding decorative pavement and sidewalks at the Kildeer Court intersection.
• Installing new freeway traffic monitoring equipment at the I-43/Brown Deer Road interchange.
• New signing/striping.

Traffic impact: WIS 100 will remain open to two-way traffic between WIS 57 and I-43 during construction, but motorists are advised to seek alternative routes. All two-way traffic will be directed onto one side of WIS 100 while its other side is reconstructed. Eastbound and westbound WIS 100 traffic will each have one lane with left turns accommodated in a middle lane at intersections. WIS 100 will continue to accommodate trucks during construction. Cross-streets will remain open to traffic with short-term intermittent closures at WIS 100 intersections when required. Message board signs will announce these short-term closures in advance.

• November: Traffic is returned to the WIS 100 eastbound and westbound lanes with localized closures of WIS 100 two lanes open to traffic in each direction. WIS 100 lane closures will be scheduled at the I-43 interchange to prepare the interchange bridge area for 2010 reconstruction.

WIS 181 (North 76th Street, city of Milwaukee)
Location: West Center Street to West Appleton Avenue
Schedule: Late May - November 2009
Length: 1.76 miles
Cost: $4.5 million
Type of work: Construction of concrete pavement, storm sewer structure, curb and gutter, sidewalk and pavement marking.
Traffic impact: Two-way traffic in each direction will be open during construction.

WIS 38 (Chase Avenue)
Location: East Howard Avenue to East Ohio Avenue
Schedule: June - November 2009
Length: One mile
Cost: $2 million
Type of work: Pavement removal, grading, concrete pavement, sewer structures, concrete curb and gutter, sidewalk and pavement marking.
Traffic impact: Two-way traffic in each direction will be open during construction.

Ozaukee County

See Waukesha/Washington and Ozaukee counties below.

Racine County

West half of the Burlington Bypass  (south and west of city of Burlington)
  Burlington Bypass
Location: WIS 36 and County P Interchanges with the Burlington Bypass
Schedule: March 23 - November 2009 (entire bypass scheduled to open in late fall 2010)
Length: 2.8 miles (entire bypass is 11 miles)
Cost: $13 million (entire bypass approximately $100 million in six separate contracts)
Type of work: Construct five new bridges (one over the White River, two at the County P interchange, and two at the WIS 36 interchange)

• Remove the existing WIS 36 - White River bridge
• Grading
• Paving
• Concrete curb and gutter
• New signing and marking on County P and WIS 36

Traffic impact: County P and WIS 36 will be closed while the interchanges are built from March 23 to November.

• The signed County P detour is WIS 50 to WIS 83 to Market Street.
• The signed WIS 36 detour is WIS 11 to WIS 120.

East half of the Bypass is currently open to WIS 83 (Pine Street).

WIS 11 (Durand Avenue)
Location: Union Pacific Railroad structure and retaining wall replacement at WIS 32 (Sheridan Road) in the village of Mount Pleasant.
Schedule: May 2008 - November 2009
Length: 0.14 miles
Cost: $7 million
Type of work: Construct new railroad bridge and retaining walls over WIS 11 west of WIS 32.
Traffic impact: WIS 11 is closed from S. Memorial Drive to WIS 32. Signed detours on Chicory and DeKoven to S. Memorial Drive. WIS 32 (Sheridan Road) is open to traffic.

WIS 11 (State Street/Durand Avenue)
Location: Main Street to the Burlington Bypass
Schedule: May 2009 - November 2009
Length: 2.4 miles
Cost: $3 million
Type of work: From Main Street to Capital Street, the asphalt roadway will be milled and overlaid. From Capital Street to the Burlington Bypass,the pavement will be replaced and a new signal will be installed at the County W/Chapel Terrace intersection.
Traffic impact: WIS 11 is closed from Main Street to the Burlington Bypass. The detour will be signed on Main Street to the Burlington Bypass for through traffic. In the four-lane section of the roadway from Main Street to Larkspur Lane, construction will be staged so half the road is built at a time to allow one lane in each direction. Drivers are encouraged to watch for changing traffic patterns and motorists are advised to seek alternative routes when possible.

WIS 38 (Northwestern Avenue)
Location: Golf Avenue to Rapids Drive
Schedule: May 2009 - November 2009
Length: 0.443 miles
Cost: $700,000
Type of work: Milling and overlaying pavement; replacing some curb and gutter, sidewalk and beam guard; installing new lighting; and landscaping any disturbed areas.
Traffic impact: WIS 38 will be constructed in two stages under traffic. A signal lane of traffic is being maintained in both directions on WIS 38. 
In the first stage, the southbound Golf Avenue to eastbound WIS 38 movement will not be allowed. A detour will be posted using Rapids Drive. Traffic will be on existing outer lanes while the inner lanes are constructed. 
In the second stage, there will be no access to or from the Golf Avenue intersection. A detour will be posted using Rapids Drive. Traffic will be on the newly constructed inner lanes while the outer lanes are constructed.

Walworth County

I-43
Location: Rock County line to US 12
Schedule: June 1 - Nov. 12, 2009
Length: 16 miles of I-43 and 0.5 mile on US 14
Cost: $8.5 million
Type of work: Concrete pavement diamond grinding; asphaltic shoulder milling; asphaltic shoulder pavement; County X and US 14 interchange ramp construction; one bridge deck removal and reconstruction;  bridge deck overlay and slope paving on five bridge decks.
Traffic impact: I-43 will experience moving lane closures, with a minimum of one 12-foot lane available in each direction at all times. County X and US 14 northbound and southbound ramps will only be closed alternately during construction to allow reasonable access to I-43 at all times. Local road and bridge closures will be posted and implemented in approximate times and places.
Closures:

• Ramps of County X and US 14 southbound and northbound will only be closed alternately to maintain reasonable access to I-43 at all times.

Washington County

WIS 145
Location: US 41 to County P
Schedule: April - November 2009
Length: 1.09 miles
Cost: $8.2 million
Type of work: Reconstruct WIS 145 (Fond du Lac Avenue) from US 41 to County P, reconstruct freeway on-/off-ramps, re-deck WIS 145 bridges over both US 41 and US 45, and construct roundabouts at all ramp termini for US 41 and US 45, and Cabela Way.
Traffic impact: Construction is largely complete. Minor clean-up and pavement marking remains. Drivers are encouraged to watch for changing traffic patterns and become familiar with driving roundabouts. For more information on driving roundabouts view the WisDOT roundabout Web site.

Also see Waukesha/Washington and Ozaukee counties below.

Waukesha County

WIS 67
Location: WIS 67 intersection with County B/Valley Road
Schedule: June 29 - Nov. 25, 2009
Length: 0.5 miles
Cost: $1.5 million
Type of work: Intersection reconstruction, modifying existing traffic signals, left turn lanes, storm sewer, signs, pavement marking and landscaping (topsoil, seed and fertilizer).    
Traffic impact: WIS 67 will remain open to traffic at all times, although single lanes may be closed. County B/Valley Road is closed between Corporate Center Drive and Pabst Farms Circle until November. Follow posted detour on Corporate Center Drive, Pabst Farms Boulevard, to Pabst farms Circle. Changeable message boards (CMSs) will notify the traveling public of changes.

I-43 (Rock Freeway)
Location: I-43 and County Y Interchange
Schedule: May 11 - November 2009
Length: 1.02 miles
Cost: $6.25 million
Type of work: Reconstruct County Y (Racine Avenue) from W. College Avenue to Julius Heil Drive, reconstruct freeway on-/off-ramps, re-deck County Y bridge over I-43, and replace existing traffic signals at ramp termini on County Y with roundabouts. Project being done in conjunction with the Waukesha County project along County Y from Julius Heil Drive to Pinewood Drive, including the County ES and County Y intersection.
Traffic impact: Single lane closures during nonpeak hours to complete landscaping and punchlist. I-43, WIS Y, and interchange ramps will always remain open to all traffic.

I-43 (Rock Freeway)
Location: I-43 and WIS 164 Interchange
Schedule: Oct. 26 – Nov. 20
Length: One mile
Cost: $500,000 - $600,000
Type of work: I-43 northbound and southbound bridges over WIS 164 will be reconstructed in 2010. Construction operations for this project will begin in late March or early April. Preliminary construction work for that project will take place this year. Work will include removing and replacing existing I-43 asphalt shoulders along the median and outside shoulder. This is being done to strengthen the shoulders to support traffic loadings during next year’s bridge reconstruction project when traffic is shifted onto the shoulders as part of construction staging. In addition, bridge deck repairs will take place to remove and replace deteriorated sections of the bridge deck surface. This is being done in order to eliminate existing potholes and to avoid further potholes during the upcoming winter months.
Traffic impact: I-43 will be open at all times but single lane closures along I-43 will be taking place during the course of project. These closures will take place during both peak and nonpeak hours. Motorists should anticipate backups and if necessary find an alternative route. I-43 and WIS 164 interchange ramps will remain open at all times. Single lane closures along WIS 164 will also be taking place during peak and nonpeak hours when bridge repair operations are taking place.

Also see Waukesha/Washington and Ozaukee counties below.

Waukesha/Washington and Ozaukee counties

WIS 167
Location: Mequon Road intersection with Wausaukee Road
Schedule: June 29 - Nov. 25, 2009
Length: 0.5 miles
Cost: $1.5 million
Type of work: Intersection reconstruction, adding new traffic signals, left turn lanes, storm sewer, signs, pavement marking and landscaping (topsoil, seed and fertilizer)    
Traffic impact: WIS 167 will remain open to traffic, the north and south sides will be built half at a time. Wausaukee Road will be closed periodically, first the north half and then the south half, each time for approximately six to eight weeks, with a local detour. Changeable message boards (CMSs) will notify the traveling public of upcoming closures of Wausaukee Road.

Motorists should slow down, use caution and stay alert when driving through construction zones. To avoid delays, consider taking an alternative route and avoid peak travel periods. Before leaving home, check the following sources for information about work zones and detours:

• Dial 511 or visit the 511 Web page for incident reports, lane closures, work zones, winter road conditions and roadside services.
• For a free copy of "Travel Easy," showing the state's largest construction projects, call (800) 242-2514 or e-mail a request to opa.exec@dot.wi.gov. 

For more information, contact: 
Dennis Shook, WisDOT Southeast Region Communications Manager
(414) 750-2395, dennis.shook@dot.wi.gov