Northeast Region weekly construction update

November 6, 2009

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is providing a weekly update on road construction in Northeast Wisconsin, which includes the counties of Brown, Calumet, Door, Fond du Lac, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Oconto, Outagamie, Sheboygan, and Winnebago.

Construction-related traffic impact exists in the following locations. Closures listed are subject to change and are weather-dependent.

Brown County

County KB and County R, village of Denmark
Location: County KB from Bohemia Drive to 300 feet east of County R, village of Denmark
Schedule: August - November 2009
Length: 0.3 miles
Cost: $907,000
Description: Project involves grading, storm sewer, base aggregate, curb and gutter, sidewalk, and hot mix asphalt paving on County KB and County R.
Traffic impact: County KB and County R will be closed to through traffic. A detour route will be posted. The detour for County KB will be Bohemia Drive, Hager Road, Wall Street, and Prospect Street. The detour for County R will be WIS 147, I-43, and US 141.

Calumet County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Door County

Michigan Street bridge
Location: Sturgeon Bay
Schedule: June 2009 - November 2010
Length: 1,390 feet
Cost: $18.4 million
Description: Work includes structural rehabilitation of the fixed and movable steel through truss spans; replacement of the machinery, controls, electrical system, lighting and fender system.
Traffic impact: The bridge is closed to all road traffic during this project. Mariners are advised that one of the movable leaves may be lowered periodically to allow portions of the deck to be removed between the hours of 6 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. One leaf will be in the up position the majority of the time with periodic full closures. At times when both leaves are down, the bridge will open at the top of the hour for recreational vessels in coordination with the Maple/Oregon bridge openings. The USCG has granted permission for this activity to occur until January 2010. Vessels requiring a full opening of the bridge are required to provide at least two hours advance notification by calling the project foreman at (906) 458-2105 or (715) 572-6295. Mariners should take note that a pier protection fendering system will not be in place for this phase of the project. Due to the nature of work being performed, mariners are strongly urged to exercise extreme caution in the vicinity of the bridge.

Fond du Lac County

US 45
Location: WIS 28 to village of Eden
Schedule: August - November 2009
Length: 15.4 miles
Cost: $4.4 million  
Description: Project involves resurfacing US 45 including: milling, grading, base aggregate, curb and gutter, hot mix asphalt pavement, beam guard replacement, culvert pipe replacement, signing, pavement marking, and a bridge rehabilitation and overlay of B-66-86.
Traffic impact: Culvert pipe replacements will be done under flagging operations. Bridge work will have a detour. The detour route going northbound is US 45 to WIS 28 to County W to WIS 67 to US 45. Southbound is the reverse. All work is dependent on weather conditions and subject to change.

WIS 49
Location: CN rail crossing on Main St. in Brandon
Schedule: Nov. 2 - Nov. 6
Length: 0.1 mile
Cost: $102,000
Description:  Replace railroad crossing
Traffic impact: Road is closed at this location. Detour is West Main Street, Center Street, East Bowen Street, WIS 49.

US 41
Location: WIS 175 to Military Road (formerly US 151)
Schedule: August 2008 - November 2009
Length: 1.1 miles
Cost: $21.0 million
Description: Project involves the reconstruction of the US 41/Hickory Street interchange, the reconstruction of the CN & FVW RR bridge over US 41, the reconstruction of the Hickory Street bridge over US 41, the construction of a pedestrian bridge over US 41 for the Wild Goose State Trail, the reconstruction of the Hickory Street/Rolling Meadows intersection, and the construction and realignment of several railroad tracks in the immediate vicinity.
Traffic impact: Southbound US 41 traffic was switched onto the newly paved southbound lanes the week of Oct. 26. Traffic in both the southbound and northbound lanes will be restricted to one lane of traffic in each direction on Monday through Friday. These closures are needed to complete work in the median. Motorists should anticipate backups on US 41 and are advised to consider alternate routes. All ramps at the Hickory Street interchange will remain closed for the duration of the project. All work is dependent on weather conditions and subject to change.
Hickory Street open: Hickory Street is open to one lane of through traffic, in each direction, between Pioneer Road and Rolling Meadows Drive.
Ramp reopens: The on-ramp from Military Road to southbound US 41 has reopened to traffic..

Kewaunee County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Manitowoc County

I-43
Location: Manitowoc River to WIS 96
Schedule: Aug. 10, 2009 - July 2010
Length: 16.3 miles
Cost: $15.8 million  
Description: This project involves bridge deck repair and overlay, asphaltic surface milling, hot mix asphalt pavement, beam guard, concrete base patching, concrete pavement (WIS 96), diamond grinding (WIS 96), ramp closure gates, law enforcement pads, pavement marking and all incidentals to complete the project.
Traffic impact: The right lanes of northbound and southbound of I-43 will continue to be closed from the north end of the Rosecrans Road structure to the south end of County T structure. Right lane closures will also begin Tuesday, Nov. 10 at bridge structures along I-43 from WIS 96 (Denmark) to the Manitowoc River Bridge. All lanes will be opened by Saturday afternoon, Nov. 14. Motorists should anticipate potential backups on I-43 as there will be one lane closed in each direction. Speed will be reduced to 55 mph in the work zones.

South Cleveland Road and approaches
Location: Cleveland Road between WIS 42 and Rangeline Road
Schedule: July - November 2009
Length: 0.1 mile
Cost: $170,500
Description: Project involves reconstructing the South Cleveland bridge and approaches, which includes replacement of the bridge, grading, base aggregate dense, hot mix asphalt pavement, and erosion control.
Traffic impact: South Cleveland Road will be closed to traffic. No detour route will be placed.
 
County Line Road bridge and approaches
Location: County Line Road 0.1 mile west of WIS 42
Schedule: August - November 2009
Length: 0.1 mile
Cost: $189,000
Description: Project involves reconstructing the bridge and approaches, which includes replacement of bridge, grading, base aggregate dense, hot mix asphalt pavement, and erosion control.
Traffic impact: County Line Road will be closed to traffic. No detour route.

WIS 67
Location: WIS 32/WIS 57 to County AA
Schedule: June - November 2009
Length: 0.9 miles
Cost: $2.7 million
Description: Project involves construction of two roundabouts, an intersection reconstruction, reconstruction of the WIS 67 roadway with milling, hot mix asphalt overlay, grading, base aggregate dense, hot mix asphalt pavement, curb and gutter, storm sewer, permanent lighting, and erosion control.
Traffic impact: Traffic control was switched to Stage 4. The County AA roundabout was opened to traffic. The WIS 32/57 – WIS 67 intersection south and west legs remain closed. WIS 67 southbound will be detoured to WIS 32/57 southbound to WIS 57 southbound to County EH westbound back to WIS 67 southbound. WIS 67 northbound will be detoured to County EH eastbound to WIS 57 northbound to WIS 32/57 northbound back to WIS 67 northbound. WIS 32/57 southbound will be detoured to Fremont Street eastbound to WIS 67 southbound back to WIS 32/57 southbound. WIS 32/57 northbound will be detoured to WIS 67 northbound to Fremont Street westbound back to WIS 32/57 northbound. The WIS 32/57 - WIS 67 intersection is restricted to a width of 12 feet at the roundabout east exit leg, affecting oversize WIS 67 southbound and WIS 32/57 southbound traffic.

Marinette County

US 41
Location: Escanaba & Lake Superior Railroad Company crossing on Marinette Avenue, US 41 in the city of Marinette
Schedule: Nov. 9 - Nov. 14
Length: 0.1 mile
Cost: $131,000
Description: Reconstruct rail crossing.
Traffic impact: Road closed at this location. Detour is County T north, WIS 64 east, return to US 41.

County T (Roosevelt Road), US 41 – WIS 64
Location: County T from US 41 north to WIS 64
Schedule: Sept. 2, 2009 - June 1, 2010
Length: 1.116 miles
Cost: $2,465,000
Description: The project involves reconstruction of County T.
Traffic impact: County T is closed to through traffic from the frontage road at US 41 to WIS 64. County T is opening to traffic Nov. 6, 2009.

US 41- North Peshtigo Bypass
  US 41 expansion, Marinette & Oconto counties (Oconto to Peshtigo)
Location: County Y south of Peshtigo to Haynes Road north of Peshtigo
Schedule: July 2008 - November 2009
Length: 3.63 miles
Cost: $19.5 million
Description: Grading, base aggregate, marsh excavation, concrete and asphalt pavements, and four structures - two over the Sault Ste. Marie / Canadian National railroad, and two over Schacht Road, permanent signing and marking, and all incidental items to complete the project.
Traffic impact: Traffic control has lane closures and traffic narrowed to one lane in each direction on US 41 north of Peshtigo. Southbound US 41 traffic is routed onto the ramp to Schacht Road through the roundabout to Maple Street, and then to existing US 41 at Old Peshtigo Road. Northbound US 41 traffic is on the new pavement at Old Peshtigo Road to Maple Street, through the roundabout to Schacht Road and the interchange ramp northbound to US 41. The crossing of equipment at the structures at Schacht Road will impact northbound traffic; this hauling will be intermittent and scheduled to last until the middle of July. This traffic pattern will be in effect until construction allows opening of the US 41 roadway south of Peshtigo, currently scheduled for mid to late October. Haynes Road is closed between US 41 and Old Peshtigo Road, as is Schacht Road at US 41. All other side roads are open to traffic during construction. Schacht Road from north of the project will have access to US 41 via the existing north frontage road. Old Peshtigo Road has been re-opened to through traffic and Schacht Road is now closed to through traffic at the Old Peshtigo Road intersection for the duration of borrow hauling, which may continue for the next month or so.
Schacht Road has now been reopened south of Old Peshtigo now that borrow hauling from that area is complete; Old Peshtigo south and east of the present 41 traffic remains open with flagging of construction borrow hauling right at the south project B-38-108/109 structures.
Please note: There will be a highway opening ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 12 at  the wayside area on the north end of the north Peshtigo bypass project.

US 41, South Peshtigo bypass
  US 41 expansion, Marinette & Oconto counties (Oconto to Peshtigo)
Location: County Y near Peshtigo to Schacht Road in Peshtigo
Schedule: June 2008 - November 2009 
Length: 3.9 miles
Cost: $26.5 million
Description: Project widens US 41 to four lanes with restricted access while bypassing the city of Peshtigo. Project includes earthwork, ten structures, concrete and asphalt paving, signing, and striping.
Traffic impact: US 41 northbound traffic is routed onto the County Y off-ramp and onto County Y into City of Peshtigo. US 41 southbound traffic is routed from the city of Peshtigo onto the County Y on-ramp and onto US 41 south.

Oconto County

US 41 Oconto bypass paving
Location: Frog Pond Road to County S
Schedule: April - November 2009
Length: 5.1 miles
Cost: $12.3 million
Description: Project completes the paving portion of US 41 for the city of Oconto bypass and upgrades three quarters of a mile of WIS 22 to an urban cross section. Work along US 41 includes earthwork, base aggregate hot mix asphalt pavement shoulders, and concrete pavement. Work along WIS 22 includes earthwork, storm sewer, base aggregate, concrete curb and gutter, roundabout construction, and landscaping.
Traffic impact: Traffic has been switched onto the new US 41 lane to bypass the city of Oconto. US 41 is still reduced to one lane in each direction just south and north of the city of Oconto. WIS 22 is open to traffic between US 141 and US 41, but a detour remains in effect between Van Hecke and Cook avenues to access the city of Oconto. Local traffic will be maintained to access businesses. The detour route for WIS 22 is north on Van Hecke Avenue, east on Evergreen Drive, south on Cook Avenue, then back to WIS 22. This closure will be in place until early November 2009.

Outagamie County

Weyers Road, town of Vandenbroek
Location: Weyers Road, town of Vandenbroek Apple Creek Crossing
Schedule: Sept. 21 - Nov. 17, 2009
Cost: $700,000
Description: Project involves replacement of the existing structure and improvement to the approaches; including, grading, paving and beam guard.
Traffic impact: Weyers Road will be closed to traffic for the duration of the project. Outagamie County will sign and maintain a detour route.

US 41
Location: WIS 15 to County J
Schedule: April - November 2009
Length: 12.3 miles
Cost: $21.9 million  
Description: Project will resurface US 41, add auxiliary lanes between Ballard Road and WIS 441, add acceleration and deceleration lanes at the WIS 47 on- and off-ramps, widen shoulders and flatten ditch slopes, install steel cable guard along the median, concrete base patching, construct a concrete barrier wall along the ramp connecting northbound WIS 441 to southbound US 41, raise bridges over US 41 at Capitol Drive, Vandenbroek Road, and Buchanan Road, and rehabilitate the US 41 bridges over WIS 55 and Maloney Road.
Traffic impact: Nightly lane closures on US 41 for pavement marking, beam guard, and cable guard will continue. There may be daytime shoulder closures and late morning lane closures on US 41 for work on culvert pipe lining, signing, and pavement marking. Motorists should anticipate backups on US 41 and are advised to consider alternate routes. Motorists are reminded that the speed limit within lane closures is 55 mph and are advised to remain alert and use caution when driving through this or any work zone.

College Avenue bridge and approaches
Location: College Avenue between Rankin Street and John Street/Walter Avenue
Schedule: August 2008 - November 2009
Cost: $16.1 million
Description: Project involves replacement of the College Avenue bridge and approaches and the Banta Court bridge and approaches. Work consists of grading, base aggregate, storm sewer, concrete pavement, pavement marking, signing, lighting, landscape planting, retaining wall, and two bridges.
Traffic impact: Banta Court is closed west of the Banta Bowl parking lot.

Sheboygan County

I-43
Location: I-43, South county line to WIS 42
Schedule: July 6, 2009 - July 16, 2010
Cost: $16.0 million
Description: Project involves bridge deck repair and overlay, asphaltic surface milling, hot mix asphalt pavement, beam guard, concrete base patching, ramp closure gates, law enforcement pads, and all incidentals to complete the project.
Traffic impact: I-43 may have one lane closed in the northbound lanes from 6 a.m. Monday morning to noon Friday, as work operations dictate. This closure will be for five miles at a time, with the closure starting on the south half of the project and as they progress to the north. The anticipated closure for the southbound work at the structures will be the same as the northbound, with one lane closed at each location.

County O
Location: County O, Sheboygan County, WIS 32 – 68th Street
Schedule: September - November 2009
Length: 1.30 miles
Cost: $1.1 million
Description: Project involves grading, base aggregate, storm sewer, asphalt paving, pavement marking, and incidentals to complete the work.
Traffic impact: County O will be closed to through traffic during construction. A detour is currently posted using WIS 32, WIS 23 and County Y.

Winnebago County

NE Region Wetland Mitigation Site
Location: Town of Oshkosh, west side of Green Valley Road, just north of County Y
Schedule: August - Nov. 13, 2009
Length: N/A
Cost: $1.2 million
Description: Project consists of clearing and grubbing, grading, weir construction, and landscaping.
Traffic impact: Minimal. Signing to be in place for trucks entering and leaving site on County Y.

US 41 - US 45
Location: US 45/Algoma Boulevard, Fernau Avenue, Snell Road, and Stillman Drive, city of Oshkosh to town of Oshkosh
Schedule: July 27, 2009 - Aug. 27, 2010
Length: N/A
Cost: $3.6 million
Description: Project constructs US 45/US 41 roundabout, local streets reconstruction, and construction of the detention pond. Project includes earthwork, storm sewer, base aggregate, concrete pavement, asphaltic pavement, curb and gutter, signing, sign structures, pavement marking, and landscaping.
Traffic impact: Fernau Avenue: one travel lane in each direction; access to Stillman Drive businesses from Snell Road/Fernau Avenue new alignment.

US 41 – Witzel Avenue overpass
Location: Washburn Street, Witzel Avenue, Koeller Street, and Rath Lane
Schedule: August 2009 - November 2010
Length: 0.937 miles
Cost: $8.3 million
Description: Project involves the demolition/reconstruction of the bridges on North Koeller Street and Washburn Street over Sawyer Creek, the realignment and reconstruction of Rath Lane/North Koeller Street, the reconstruction and realignment of Washburn Street frontage road, the demolition and reconstruction of the Witzel Overpass over US 41, and the construction of two roundabouts and three retaining walls at the Witzel/Washburn and Witzel/Koeller intersections.
Traffic impact: Koeller Street is now open. The paving of North Koeller Street and Rath Lane will have minimal impact upon traffic. There should only be slight delays on WIS 21 for trucks entering and exiting traffic during this time. Southbound US 41 traffic will be affected by the shoulder closure between WIS 21 and Witzel Avenue through Dec. 1. Northbound traffic on Washburn will be affected by a right lane closure. Traffic may be flagged during paving operations on Washburn. Traffic on Washburn will have to utilize a temporary gravel bypass that is in place on the east side of the new concrete pavement. Please do not drive on the new concrete pavement. Please use caution and control your speed through this area.

US 41 - Lake Butte des Morts
Location: US 41 southbound from US 45 interchange to the WIS 21 interchange.
Schedule: August 2009 - November 2010
Length: N/A
Cost: $15.2 million
Description: Project involves widening the Lake Butte des Morts causeway including the southbound US 41 off-ramp to WIS 21. The project also constructs a new overpass for Lake Butte des Morts Drive over US 41 as well as the reconstruction of Lake Butte des Morts Drive and Marine Drive.  This project also involves grading associated with the new US 41/US 45 interchange.
Traffic impact: Beginning Sept. 8, Marine Drive will be closed to through traffic; access will be maintained to local residents and businesses. Southbound US 41 is reduced to two 11-foot lanes between US 45 and WIS 21. Northbound 41 inside and outside shoulders are closed at Westwind Road. The Wiowash Trail is closed between Marine Drive and Westwind Road until the summer of 2010. US 41 southbound will be reduced to one 11-foot lane between US 45 and WIS 21 between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. between Nov. 9 and Nov. 13. Beginning Monday, Nov. 9, Lake Butte des Morts Drive will be closed to through traffic between Westwind Road and County T, access will be maintained to resident and businesses from County T.

US 41 - Snell Road overpass
Location: Fountain Avenue/Snell Road, town of Oshkosh
Schedule: July 2009 - July 2010
Length: 0.5 miles
Cost: $3.9 million
Description: Project constructs a bridge over US 41 to connect Fountain Road, west of US 41, to Snell Road east of US 41.This project will re-ditch along US 41. Project includes earthwork, the bridge overpass, water main, storm sewer, asphalt paving, signing, and striping.
Traffic impact: US 41 northbound and southbound shoulders are closed through the construction zone. The median lane of US 41 northbound will be closed the evening of Monday, Nov. 9. There will be lane closures on Wednesday evening, Nov. 11, for the removal of the temporary concrete barrier. Snell Road is closed to traffic from the west property line of the Oshkosh Correctional Facility for a distance of about one-fourth mile to the west/southwest. Green Valley Road is closed from Glenway Drive to the south and Fountain Avenue is closed from about 800 feet west of Green Valley Road to Green Valley Road.

US 41 and WIS 44, ramp improvements and crash investigation sites
Location: Intersection of US 41 and WIS 44
Schedule: Oct. 5 - Nov. 11, 2009
Length: None
Description: Addition of left-turn-only lanes on the US 41 off-ramps; the addition of a crash investigation site, loop detector replacement, and Special High Early Strength (SHES) concrete patching.
Traffic impact: The contractor may close the outside lanes of traffic in both directions on WIS 44 to make room for landscaping activities. Flagging operation will occur during the placement of permanent pavement marking. There may be right lane closures on WIS 44 in both directions during paving. The contractor may elect to close down the US 41 off-ramps to WIS 44 during the paving of the left turn lanes on Nov. 2 and Nov. 3. If that occurs, there will be a message board on US 41 three days prior to the closure indicating that closure.

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:
Kim Rudat, WisDOT Northeast Region Communications Manager
(920) 492-5743, kim.rudat@dot.wi.gov

US 41 Expansion Project information:
Kris Schuller, WisDOT Project Communications Manager 
(920) 492-4109, kris.schuller@dot.wi.gov