North Central Region weekly construction update

July 3, 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

WIS 44
Location: Green Lake County B to WIS 73
Schedule: May 4 - August 31, 2009
Cost: $2.3 million
Description: Crews will reconstruct the highway, make safety improvements for driving sight distance, pave the shoulders, and make drainage improvements.
Traffic impact: WIS 44 is closed to through traffic and detoured via WIS 73 and Green Lake County X. Access will be maintained for local traffic.

Iron County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Langlade County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Lincoln County

US 51
Location: Marathon County line to North Star Drive
Schedule: April 27 - July 17, 2009
Cost: $9.1 million
Description: Crews will resurface the southbound lanes. Crews will also make improvements to the US 51/County Q overpass and overlay the exit/entrance ramps at County Q, WIS 64, and County K. An anti-skid surface treatment will be applied on the five US 51 southbound bridges within the project limits.
Traffic impact: Motorists on County Q may encounter flagging operations. US 51 is open to one lane in each direction in the northbound lanes. The speed limit is reduced to 55 mph. Motorists, using entrance ramps to US 51, are expected to yield to US 51 traffic. Lane reductions on US 51 are expected to last until July 2. Crews will open the roadway to two lanes in each direction for the July 4 holiday weekend. Starting July 6, traffic will again be reduced to one lane in each direction from 6 a.m. Mondays until 12 p.m. Fridays. The speed limit will also be reduced to 55 mph at this location.

Marathon County

I-39
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: During construction, I-39 will remain open to traffic. Motorists can expect to encounter northbound and southbound lane closures from 6 a.m. Mondays to noon on Fridays. The speed limit in the work zone will be reduced to 55 mph during weekdays. Crews plan to open I-39 to two lanes in each direction for the July 4 holiday weekend on Thursday, July 2. Starting July 7 at 4 a.m. traffic will again be reduced to one lane in each direction. Crews plan to close the northbound off ramp to WIS 34 at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7. The ramp is scheduled to reopen at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, July 8.

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 Sherman Street and Stewart Avenue - is reduced to one lane in each direction.
• 28th Avenue - between Stewart Avenue and WIS 52 - is closed. This closure is expected to last until mid-August.
• Stewart Avenue - between WIS 52 and 24th Avenue - is reduced to one lane in each direction.
• The closure of Stewart Avenue - under US 51 - is scheduled to begin July 6. The closure is expected to last until late September.
• Crews plan to close the ramp connecting westbound WIS 29 to southbound US 51 (in the WIS 29 east interchange) from Monday, July 6 to Thursday, July 9. Traffic will be detoured via the US 51/Marathon County N interchange.

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: 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 tentatively planning to close WIS 153 between Business 51 and Water Street in the city of Mosinee for a bridge deck pour. The closure is currently scheduled to begin the morning of Friday, July 17. WIS 153 would reopen on Tuesday, July 21. The times and dates of the closure are dependent on favorable weather conditions and construction status. During the closure, traffic will be detoured via I-39, WIS 34, Marathon County C and County O.

I-39
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 will remain open during construction, but motorists can expect to encounter lane reductions. The speed limit in the work zone will be reduced to 55 mph on weekdays. The southbound on ramp to I-39 from Maple Ridge Road is currently closed and is scheduled to reopen in early September. Maple Ridge Road traffic is detoured via Old Highway 51 and WIS 153.

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 east side of the roadway. Each lane is restricted to 10 feet.

Marquette County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Menominee County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Oneida County

WIS 70
Location: Price County line to the Oneida County line
Schedule: May 4 - early September 2009
Cost: $3.4 million
Description: Crews will replace the pavement between the Price county line and Silver Beach Drive and reconstruct the highway between Silver Beach Drive and the Oneida County line.
Traffic impact: The highway is closed to through traffic and detoured via WIS 47, WIS 182 and WIS 13. Crews plan to reopen the highway to through traffic before the end of the day on July 3, 2009. After the road reopens, motorists can expect to encounter gravel roads, localized daytime flagging operations, and possible delays. Paving is scheduled to begin the week of July 13.

WIS 32
Location: Forest County line to US 45
Schedule: June 29 - early August 2009
Cost: $1.3 million
Description: Crews will mill off the existing surface and overlay it with new asphalt.
Traffic impact: WIS 32 will remain open to traffic during construction. Motorists can expect to encounter daytime lane closures and flagging operations.

Portage County

I-39/US 51
Location: Porter Road overpass
Schedule: May 26 to September 2009
Cost: $1.8 million
Description: Crews will replace the structure with a wider deck that will accommodate increasing traffic volumes and bicyclists.
Traffic impact: Porter Road is closed to traffic. The shoulders on I-39 are closed for the duration of the project. Crews are planning a northbound I-39 lane closure on Tuesday, July 7 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Price County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Shawano County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Vilas County

US 45
Location: Vilas County K to the Michigan state line
Schedule: July 6 - late September 2009
Cost: $2.8 million
Description: Crews will repave the highway and replace a box culvert.
Traffic impacts: Motorists may encounter lane closures during daylight hours and flagging operations. A temporary traffic signal will be used to control traffic near the intersection of US 45 and Vilas County K.

WIS 17
Location: St. Louis Road (Phelps) to Vilas County A
Schedule: April 20 - November 2009
Cost: $6.3 million
Description: Improvements include reconstruction, pavement replacement, and resurfacing.
Traffic impact: Motorists can expect to encounter lane closures and flagging operations. Crews plan to close WIS 17 on July 6. Traffic will be detoured via US 45/WIS 32 north and Vilas County E. This closure is expected to last until August 28.

Waupaca County

Churchill Street and Royalton Street (old WIS 22/54)
Location: City of Waupaca
Schedule: April 20 - August 2009
Cost: $1.4 million
Description: Improvements include reconstruction and resurfacing.
Traffic impact: Motorists can expect to encounter lane closures and flagging operations.

WIS 54
Location: Railroad overpass, east of Royalton
Schedule: April 1 - August 2009
Cost: $1.9 million
Description: Replacement of the existing structure with a wider bridge.
Traffic impact: WIS 54 is closed and detoured via WIS 22 and US 45.

Waushara County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Wood County

Business 13 (South Central Avenue)
Location: South Roddis Avenue to WIS 13 (Veterans Parkway)
Schedule: March 23 - November 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. A local detour is provided via Chestnut Avenue, Maple Avenue and Cedar Avenue. Business 13 - between South Roddis Avenue and 6th Street - will remain open to traffic but motorists can expect to encounter lane closures.

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