Northeast Region weekly construction update

November 20, 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

No state construction projects currently in progress.

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 41
Location: WIS 175 to Military Road (formerly US 151)
Schedule: August 2008 - December 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:

• Hickory Street open: Hickory Street is open to two lanes of through traffic, in each direction, between Pioneer Road and Rolling Meadows Drive.
  Hickory Street ramps are open: The on- and off-ramps at Hickory Street for US 41 are now open to traffic.
  Traffic impact: Traffic in both the southbound and northbound lanes will be restricted to one lane of traffic in each direction during the week (but not during the Thanksgiving holiday). 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 work is dependent on weather conditions and subject to change.

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: Shoulder closures will occur between US 310 and WIS 96. Roadway and shoulders will be completely open by noon on Wednesday, Nov. 25 for the Thanksgiving weekend.

Marinette County

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: With the opening of the new US 41 roadway, the 41 traffic will be switched from its current traffic pattern on Maple Street, Schacht Road and the interchange east ramps. The new US 41 and all existing side roads will be open to traffic. The existing intersection of Old Peshtigo Road and Maple Street will remain in service until next spring. Construction work has been completed on the new Old Peshtigo Road intersection.

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 will be transferred to the new alignment around the city of Peshitgo. All side roads will be open to traffic.

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 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 mid-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: No more nightly lane closures are anticipated, potential daily shoulder closures will remain primarily in the southbound lanes. No work will be permitted in the northbound lanes on Friday, Nov. 20; also no work will be permitted on the project from Thursday, Nov. 26 until 6 a.m. Monday, Nov. 30. Motorists should still anticipate potential backups on US 41 and are advised to remain alert and use caution when driving through this or any construction work zone.

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: For the ramp gate base installation, there will be shoulder closures with no disruption to normal traffic flow onto the ramps.

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

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; Stillman Drive access from US 45 closed permanently. Access to Stillman businesses from Snell Road/Fernau Avenue on new alignment; Snell Road bypass will be closed beginning Nov.14, traffic will flow through new temporary Fernau Avenue/Snell Road intersection just 100 feet east of old Fernau/Snell Road intersection.

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. Expect delays on WIS 21 for trucks entering and exiting traffic during the lane closure on Nov. 19. Expect backups and delays on WIS 21 while the right-lane closure is in effect on WIS 21 due to merging issues. 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. On Wednesday and Thursday nights (Nov. 18–19), southbound US 41 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.

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: 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.

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