Southeast Region weekly construction update

December 2, 2011

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

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Milwaukee County

US 18 (Bluemound Road)
Location: 124th Street to Mayfair Road, city of Wauwatosa
Schedule: May 24 to December
Length of project: 1.13 miles
Cost: $5.6 million
Type of work: Complete reconstruction of the roadway including new storm sewer, concrete pavement, traffic signals and street lighting and the construction of a new grade separated segment of the Oak Leaf Trail adjacent to Underwood Creek below US 18.
Traffic impacts: US 18 will remain open to two lanes of traffic in both directions, except for intermittent closures for utility work, which will affect one lane at a time. Expect short-term lane closures for pavement marking between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., as well.

WIS 100 (US 45)
Location: Bridges over Rawson Avenue (County BB) and approaches
Schedule: April 2012 to November 2012 (Northbound structure and approaches)
Length of project: .26 miles
Cost: $5.9 million
Type of work: The WIS 100 bridges over Rawson Avenue will be completely replaced, with increased vertical clearance over Rawson Avenue and increased width of roadway for the future expansion of WIS 100 to three lanes within this section. A shared use path and sidewalk will also be added to the bridge widths. Included will be MSE walls on all corners, new guardrail, roadway pavement approaches, curb and gutter, and storm sewer.
Traffic impacts: Single-lane closures with cross-over in the median, and one lane of northbound and southbound traffic will be maintained on the same side of the road. In 2012 the southbound lanes will be used for traffic. Some minor median openings will be closed. During the 2011/2012 winter break (November to April) traffic will be back open to two lanes in each direction. Rawson Avenue (County BB) will be closed for some nights within the bridge limits. A detour will be in place from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. during this operation. Rawson Avenue under WIS 100 will be closed periodically throughout the project during off-peak hours. Changeable message signs will be placed 3 days prior to any closures. The set detour will be: Eastbound traffic on Rawson Avenue should turn south on Forest Home Avenue, turn left on St. Martins Road, southeast to WIS 100. From there, the detour is south on WIS 100 to WIS 36 (Loomis Road), then left (northeast) along Loomis Road until it intersects with Rawson Avenue. Westbound traffic should exit Rawson Avenue onto southbound WIS 36 (Loomis Road), then head southwest on WIS 36 to WIS 100. From there, the detour is to turn right onto WIS 100, left onto St. Martins Road, northwest on St. Martins Road to Forest Home Avenue, and right (north) to the intersection with Rawson Avenue.

Ozaukee County

WIS 33
Location: Milwaukee River Overflow bridge (Saukville) to South Tower Drive (Port Washington) 
Schedule: May 24 to December 16, 2011; April 2012 to June 2012
Length of project: Two miles
Cost: $12 million
Type of work: WIS 33 from Saukville to Port Washington will be reconstructed from a 2 lane roadway to a four-lane divided roadway. Roundabouts will be added at Market Street, Northwoods Road and at the County LL overpass (the County LL overpass structure will be removed). Also the traffic signals at Foster, I-43 southbound ramps and I-43 northbound ramps will be replaced. Street lighting, sidewalks and a multi-use path will also be added to this project.
Traffic impacts: WIS 33, between Saukville and Port Washington, will be built half at a time, with traffic operating on a temporary roadway while the new section is being built, after the new section is built, then traffic will be switched. There will be short detours while the four ramps are reconstructed at the WIS 33 and I-43 interchange. Each ramp will be closed for approximately one week and traffic will be detoured to the next interchange immediately north or south of the WIS 33 interchange (depending on which ramp is closed). Mitigation contracts are in place with the State Patrol to help minimize traffic impacts.

Racine County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Walworth County

WIS 59
Location: Intersection of WIS 59 and Janesville Road (Old WIS 89)
Schedule: Mid-August to June 2012
Length of project: 0.3 miles
Cost: $715,000
Type of work: Intersection reconstruction and realignment, which will include grading, asphaltic pavement, storm sewer, curb and gutter, sidewalk, signing, and pavement marking. Work will be completed on sidewalks, islands and landscaping as whether allows in spring.
Traffic impact: None. Construction activities are suspended for winter.

Washington County

WIS 144
Location: Skyline Drive to Valley View Road
Schedule: August to December 20, 2011
Length of project: 8.4 miles
Cost: $9.6 million
Type of work: WIS 144 will be milled and overlaid the entire length of the project with the exception of a substandard horizontal and vertical curve which will be reconstructed. WIS 144 will remain a two lane rural undivided roadway with six-foot shoulders, but the shoulders will be paved a minimum of 5 feet wide to accommodate bicycles. Intersections will be improved to current design standards and widened as necessary to accommodate bicycles. Additionally, the areas between the intersections will require shoulder, side slope and ditch improvements as well as beam guard replacement.
Traffic impacts: The County HH intersection at WIS 144 is closed. Construction activities began on August 15 and are taking place on WIS 144 between County HH and Highland Drive.

Waukesha County

US 18 (Bluemound Road)
Location: Moorland Road to 124th Street
Schedule: May 9 to November 2011
Length of project: 1.8 miles
Cost: $6.1 million
Type of work: Mill and resurface with new pavement. Reconstruct 600 feet of US 18 to improve driver sight distance and remove an existing railroad crossing. Modify the configuration of some intersections to improve driver visibility and to accommodate current and future traffic volumes. Modify median openings and access points for reducing a crash rate that is slightly above the statewide average. Add and improve sidewalks. Improve Waukesha Metro Transit bus stops. Adjust existing storm sewer and utilities. Modifications of Sunnyslope Road and Elm Grove Road have been made to accommodate increased traffic volumes.
Traffic impacts: Two lanes of traffic in each direction will be maintained during peak hours of travel. Temporary single lane operations in each direction may be conducted during non-peak hours of travel and during daytime hours as required for paving. Closures of intersections will be required to facilitate construction. Right in/right outs will be maintained for the duration of the project, except as required to facilitate construction.

East - West freeway
Location: County P interchange
Schedule: March to December 2011
Length of project: 2.2 miles
Cost: $11.8 million
Type of work: The existing half diamond interchange will be reconstructed to a full diamond. New bridges and retaining walls will be constructed on I-94. County P will be expanded to a four-lane urban section at the interchange. The County DR frontage roads will be relocated. Four roundabouts will be constructed at the interchange.
Traffic impacts: I-94, all ramps, County P and County DR are all open to traffic. Short term lane closures and flagging operations on County P and County DR will continue until mid-December.

I-43, Rock Freeway
Location: Martin Road bridges (IH 43 over Martin Road)
Schedule: September 6, 2011 to October 2012.
Length of project: 0.5 miles
Cost: $3.5 million
Type of work: The I-43 bridges over Martin Road will be widened and deck replaced. Half mile of I-43 northbound and southbound shall be reconstructed, consisting of roadway widening, excavation, base aggregate dense, concrete base and HMA pavement.
Traffic impacts: Construction work shall be performed under traffic on I-43. All lanes and shoulders on I-43 shall remain open between November 2011 and March 15, 2012. Stage 1 shall consist of long-term outside lane shoulder closure and off peak hours (9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily and 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily Monday to Friday), single lane (right lane) closures on I-43. This stage will be completed in the year 2011. Stage 2 (from March 15, 2012) shall consist of long-term inside shoulder closure and off peak hour single lane (left lane) closures on I-43. Stage 3 (from June 26, 2012) shall consist of occasional full closure of Martin Road to allow for bridge deck and structure work. Long-term outside shoulder and right lane closures on I-43. Two lane traffic pattern would be maintained on I-43 northbound and southbound during traffic peak hours and special events.

• Buckle up for safety.
• Know where construction zones are located and allow extra time to get through them.
• Avoid the peak travel hours.
• Watch for special messages on electronic message boards as you approach major construction zones.
• Slow down, get into the correct lane early, and merge cautiously.
• Stay alert for surprise slow-downs.
• Take a scenic alternate route.

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:

• For interstate/freeway lane and ramp closures, travel times and camera images in southeast Wisconsin, visit www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/milwaukee/index.htm.
• For statewide recorded road construction information 24 hours a day on incident reports, lane closures, work zones, winter road conditions and roadside services, call 5-1-1 or visit the 511 website.  
• For information on the I-94 North-South project in Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee counties, visit the project web site.
• For a free copy of "Travel Easy," showing the state's largest construction projects, call (800) 242-2514 or e-mail a request to the Office of Public Affairs. 

For more information, contact:
Communications Manager Emlynn Grisar, WisDOT Southeast Region
(262) 521-5373, Emlynn.Grisar@dot.wi.gov