Northwest region construction update

May 15, 2008

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is providing a weekly update on construction projects in the northwest region, which includes the counties of Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Rusk, Sawyer, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau and Washburn counties.

Construction-related traffic impacts are subject to change and are dependent on favorable weather conditions.

Ashland County

WIS 77
Location: County M to WIS 13
Description: Maintenance seal coat, asphalt repair, crack sealing, rut fill and new pavement markings
Traffic Impact: Highway will be open to two- way, controlled traffic. Flaggers and pilot vehicles will be used to control traffic through the work zones during the daytime lane closures.

Chippewa County

US 53
Location: Chippewa River to railroad bridge
Cost: $2,924,606
Description: Bridge rehabilitation work
Traffic Impact: Counter directional traffic on southbound lane trough work zone with 14 foot lane width restrictions. Single lane closure on eastbound WIS 29 over US 53 with a lane restriction of 14 foot width.

US 53
Location: County S and Duncan Creek
Cost: $2,043,764
Description: Bridge rehabilitation work
Traffic Impact: Single lane closures on north and southbound US 53 with width restrictions of 13 feet.

Clark and Jackson Counties

US 12
Location: US 10 to I-94
Description: Maintenance seal coat, asphalt repair, crack sealing, rut fill and new pavement markings
Traffic Impact: Highway will be open to two- way traffic, controlled traffic. Flaggers and pilot vehicles will be used to control traffic through the work zones during the daytime lane closures.

Eau Claire County

Hastings Way
Location: WIS 312 – Melby Road
Cost: $4,162,894
Description: This project consists of excavation common, removing pavement, base aggregate, concrete pavement, concrete sidewalk, HMA pavement, curb and gutter, storm sewer, pedestrian underpass, lighting, signals, pavement markings, and incidentals.
Traffic Impact: Traffic on Eddy lane will be shifted to the north side of the intersection on May 20 or May 21, weather permitting. Mainline traffic will be split up in the middle of the project.

US 12 (Clairemont Avenue)
Location: Craig Road – US 53
Cost: $12,386,130
Description: US 12 reconstruction
Traffic Impact: All US 12 (Clairemont Avenue) traffic is operating on the eastbound US 12 side. There is a 10 foot lane width restriction on all through and side road traffic lanes. This will continue until approximately July 28. Intersection at May Street is a right turn in, right turn out only intersection. No cross traffic is allowed at that intersection.

WIS 27
Location: North of Augusta
Cost:  $3,788,188.10
Description: Bridge replacement over Eau Claire River
Traffic Impact: Contractor has completed the installation of the deck reinforcing and will begin to pour the new deck the week of May 12.

Hastings Way
Location: Eau Claire River Bridge
Cost: $827,430
Description: Bridge repainting
Traffic Impact: Inside lane of northbound will be closed for the duration of the project. NB Lane closure began April 28, 2008 and will continue through the duration of the project. Project completion date July 25, 2008

I-94
Location: Hudson-Menomonie Road
Cost: $3,464,000
Description: Bridge structure overlays
Traffic Impact: The right lane will be closed in both east and westbound directions. There is a lane width restriction of 13 feet, from WIS 25 to County Q. It is anticipated to have all decks poured and approach slabs completed by May 9. Asphalt shoulder paving will follow.

I-94
Location: Menomonie-Eau Claire Road
Cost: $2,600,000
Description: Replacing Lowes Creek Bridge over I-94, eastbound lanes.
Traffic Impact: Traffic is one lane eastbound and one lane westbound for approximately five miles through the construction zone. Speed limit in the area is 55 mph. Work on the eastbound portion of the bridge is expected to be done prior to Memorial Day weekend. Replacing the westbound portion of the bridge will not start until after Labor Day.

US 53
Location: Eau Claire – Osseo Road
Cost: $5,400,000
Description: Old Town Hall Road intersection
Traffic Impact: Traffic is one lane northbound and one lane southbound from State Patrol to the Interstate. This traffic will be routed onto a temporary bypass in the Old Town Hall Road intersection area probably by Monday afternoon. This will allow the contractor to begin building the roundabout at US 53 and Old Town Hall Road. Old Town Hall Road is closed from US 53 to Graff Road. Traffic is using the temporary bypass in the area while concrete is removed from US 53.

US 10
Location: Fairchild
Cost: $625,595
Description: Bridge replacement project
Traffic Impact: Traffic will be rerouted on the temporary bypass.

Jackson County

I-94, US 121
Location: Hixton, Northfield
Cost: $1,679,000
Description: Re-decking bridges over I-94 in Northfield and Hixton
Traffic Impact: Traffic on eastbound I-94 over WIS 95 in Hixton will be open to two 11-foot lanes with merging ramp traffic. WIS 121 traffic over I-94 in Northfield will remain restricted to one lane in each direction with the use of temporary traffic signals. Intermittent lane closures on I-94 are possible in both directions. 

Rusk County

WIS 73
Location: South county line to US 8
Description: Maintenance seal coat, asphalt repair, crack sealing, rut fill and new pavement markings
Traffic Impact: Highway will be open to two- way traffic, controlled traffic. Flaggers and pilot vehicles will be used to control traffic through the work zones during the daytime lane closures.

Taylor County

WIS 73
Location: Branch Hay Creek Bridge-WIS 64 east junction
Cost: $3,505,696
Description: New box culvert installed, removing railroad overhead and building an at-grade crossing
Traffic Impact: Single lane closures with flagging operations through the middle of May. Crews will continue with intersection work at WIS 64 and County F in preparation for the detour. On May 13, WIS 73 will be closed from County S to WIS 64 and detoured via County F and WIS 64 through Lublin.

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:

• Call 1-800-ROAD-WIS (762-3947) for statewide road construction information.
• Visit the WisDOT Web site for statewide driving conditions and other travel-related information (www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/index.htm). Updates on the Marquette Interchange Project in Milwaukee are available at www.mchange.org.
• 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.state.wi.us.

For more information, contact:
Chris Ouellette, Regional Communications Manager 
(715) 833-9814, chris.ouellette@dot.state.wi.us