Northwest Region weekly construction update

November 2, 2009

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is providing a weekly update on road construction 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 impact is subject to change and dependent on favorable weather patterns.

*** Note: This is the last update for the 2009 calendar year (Nov. 2, 2009). Look for it to start back up in the spring of 2010. ***

Ashland County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Barron County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Bayfield County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Buffalo County

WIS 25
Location: Nelson, Wisconsin - Wabasha, Minnesota
Schedule: Sept. 16, 2009 - December 2010
Cost: $12.4 million
Description: Bridge reconstruction and replacement project
Traffic impact: WIS 25 will be limited to one lane during the overnight hours while crews work to widen one of the structures. Road will be open during the daytime hours.

Burnett County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Chippewa County

WIS 27
Location: Lake Holcombe (Fisher River Bridge)
Schedule: July 13 - Oct. 31, 2009
Cost: $991,073
Description: Bridge replacement project over Fisher River
Traffic impact: Temporary bypass with possible delays due to use of flagging crews.

WIS 64
Location: Chippewa River Bridge
Schedule: July 27 - Oct. 16, 2009 (Not completed, will be finished in Spring 2010)
Cost: $1.3 million
Description: Repainting the bridge on WIS 64 over the Chippewa River.
Traffic impact: Traffic control has been removed. Project is complete for this season. Will resume in the spring 2010.

Clark County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Douglas County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Dunn County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Eau Claire County

US 53
Location: Hastings Way/Birch Street in the city of Eau Claire
Schedule: March 24 - Nov. 6, 2009
Cost: $8.7 million
Description: Removing the Birch Street bridge and constructing an at-grade intersection with stop lights.
Traffic impact: Both lanes of southbound Hastings Way from Birch Street to the North Crossing and the southbound Business 53 ramp from WIS 312 are open to traffic. Southbound Hastings Way is limited to one lane from Galloway Street to Birch Street. Northbound Hastings Way traffic is limited to one lane from Galloway Street to the North Crossing. Birch Street is open to through traffic at Hastings Way. The Galloway Street ramp to southbound Business 53 is closed during this stage.

Jackson County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Pepin County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Pierce County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Polk County

US 8
Location: WIS 35 to Apple River Bridge and Interstate Park Bridge
Schedule: Sept. 14 - Nov. 13, 2009
Cost: $3.6 million for both projects (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act project)
Description: Resurface US 8 and repaint bridge
Traffic impact: US 8 will be restricted to a single lane with the use of flagging crews. The bridge painting will occur under US 8 with no impact to traffic.

Rusk County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

St. Croix County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Sawyer County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Taylor County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Trempealeau County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Washburn County

WIS 70
Location: County M to County B
Schedule: Sept. 21 - Nov. 5, 2009
Cost: $2.1 million
Description: Resurface project, including replacement of curb and gutter and adjustments to beam guards
Traffic impact: Two-way traffic will be maintained at all times. Traffic will be controlled by daytime flagging operation.

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:
Chris Ouellette, WisDOT Northwest Region Communications Manager
(715) 833-9814, chris.ouellette@dot.wi.gov