North Central Region weekly construction update

November 6, 2009

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is providing a weekly update on road construction in North Central Wisconsin, which includes the counties of Adams, Florence, Forest, Green Lake, Iron, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Marquette, Menominee, Oneida, Portage, Price, Shawano, Vilas, Waupaca, Waushara and Wood.

Construction-related traffic impact is subject to change and is dependent on favorable weather conditions.

Adams County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Florence County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Forest County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Green Lake County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Iron County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Langlade County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Lincoln County

US 51
Location: Merrill to Tomahawk
Schedule: July 27 - Nov. 13, 2009
Cost: $1 million
Description: Crews will repaint and perform routine maintenance to the northbound and southbound bridges over WIS 64 and the Wisconsin River.
Traffic impact: US 51 will remain open to traffic. Motorists can expect to encounter southbound lane closures. When lanes are closed, the speed limit in the work zone is reduced to 55 mph. The highway will reopen to two lanes in each direction by 5 p.m. each Friday.

Marathon County

I-39/US 51
Location: WIS 34 to the Rothschild Business 51 interchange
Schedule: June 22 - July 2010
Cost: $11 million
Description: Crews will mill off the existing surface and overlay it with new asphalt.
Traffic impact: I-39 will remain open to traffic. Motorists can expect to encounter northbound single lane closures. When the roadway is reduced to a single lane, the speed limit is 55 mph.

I-39/US 51
Location: Bull Junior Creek bridges, village of Kronenwetter
Schedule: June 22 - December 2009
Cost: $3.3 million
Description: Crews will reconstruct and widen the bridges to accommodate increasing traffic volumes and future improvements for the Maple Ridge Road interchange.
Traffic impact: I-39/US 51 will remain open during construction. Motorists can expect to encounter single lane closures.

WIS 13 (Division Street)
Location: Monroe Street to Wausau Street, city of Colby
Schedule: May 18 - late November 2009
Cost: $3.3 million
Description: Crews will reconstruct the highway.
Traffic impact: WIS 13 will remain open to two-way traffic. Motorists can expect to encounter daytime flagging operations and potential delays. Traffic is shifted to the center of the roadway until Nov. 13. Each lane is restricted to 10 feet.

WIS 153
Location: Mosinee high and low bridges
Schedule: July 21, 2008 - late July 2010
Cost: $10.4 million
Description: Crews will widen both structures and construct a multi-use path.
Traffic impact: The bridges are open to traffic. Each lane is restricted to 10 feet. Motorists can expect to encounter lane closures and flagging operations weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Some lane closures may also be necessary on Saturdays before 10 a.m. Crews are planning to switch eastbound traffic to the new structure on Monday, Nov. 16. Westbound traffic will be switched to the new structure by the end of the day Friday, Nov. 20. The schedule is dependent on favorable weather conditions and construction status.

US 51/WIS 29
Location: Marathon County NN to the US 51/Bridge Street interchange
Schedule: July 2008 - September 2010
Cost: $25.6 million
Description: Crews are reconstructing and widening US 51/WIS 29. Related work includes: construction of new high-speed ramps; upgrades to the WIS 52 interchange; and improvements to Stewart Avenue and 28th Avenue.
Traffic impact:

• 28th Avenue - between WIS 52 and Sherman Street - is reduced to one lane in each direction.
• Northbound US 51 – between Sherman Street and WIS 52 – will be reduced to one lane Monday, Nov. 9 and Tuesday, Nov. 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
• The northbound US 51 off-ramp to WIS 52 will be closed Monday, Nov. 16 until the end of the day Friday, Nov. 20. During the closure, traffic will be detoured via Bridge Street, 17th Avenue, and WIS 52.

Marquette County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Menominee County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Oneida County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Portage County

US 10
Location: Portage County N to Long Road
Schedule: June 16 - November 2011
Cost: $25 million
Description: Crews will construct a new four-lane freeway. The project includes overpasses at Portage County G and Portage County O and a new interchange with WIS 34 south. Other changes include some local road access modifications and closures.
Traffic impact: Crews are constructing US 10 on a new alignment. No impact to existing US 10 is expected until 2011. Motorists can expect some minor disruptions in the local road system adjacent to the project. Crews plan to detour WIS 34 between WIS 66 (formerly County P) and existing US 10 in summer 2011.

Price County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Shawano County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Vilas County

WIS 17
Location: St. Louis Road (Phelps) to Vilas County A
Schedule: April 20 - mid-November 2009
Cost: $6.3 million
Description: Improvements include reconstruction, pavement replacement, and resurfacing.
Traffic impact: The road is open to through traffic. Motorists can expect to encounter lane closures and flagging operations until Nov. 13, 2009. Work on the adjacent local roads will resume in May 2010.

Waupaca County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Waushara County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Wood County

WIS 54
Location: Small, Cranberry, and Hemlock Creek bridges
Schedule: July 22 - December 2009
Cost: $1.7 million
Description: Crews will replace the Small, Cranberry, and Hemlock Creek bridges on WIS 54.
Traffic impact: WIS 54 is closed and detoured via WIS 80, 173, and 73 until Nov. 20.

Business 13 (South Central Avenue)
Location: South Roddis Avenue to WIS 13 (Veterans Parkway)
Schedule: March 23 - Nov. 20, 2009
Length: 1.3 miles
Cost: $9 million
Description: Reconstruction of the roadway
Traffic impact: Business 13 between WIS 13 and 6th Street is closed to through traffic and detoured via WIS 13. Business 13 – between South Roddis Avenue and 6th Street – is open to local traffic but motorists can expect to encounter lane closures. Traffic will remain on the east half of Business 13 during construction of the west half. Business 13 between 6th Street and the Veterans Parkway is open to local traffic. West 14th Street between Oak Street and Central Avenue is closed and detoured via 11th Street and Oak Street until mid-November.

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 email a request to opa.exec@dot.wi.gov.

For more information, contact:
Kristin McHugh, WisDOT North Central Regional Communications Manager
(715) 421-8380, kristin.mchugh@dot.wi.gov