Southwest Region weekly construction update

November 6, 2009

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is providing a weekly update on road construction in Southwest Wisconsin, which includes the counties of Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Juneau, La Crosse, Lafayette, Monroe, Richland, Rock, Sauk and Vernon.

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

Columbia County

I-39/90/94
Location: Dane County line to WIS 60 in Columbia County
Schedule: Sept. 9 - Nov. 19, 2009
Description: Replacing 3.71 miles of pavement and installing median safety walls.
Traffic impact: Two lanes of traffic will remain open in each direction with the use of crossovers. Speeds will be reduced to 55 mph in the work zone. Motorists should anticipate significant delays during peak hours, particularly westbound (northbound) traffic on Friday afternoon and eastbound (southbound) traffic on Sunday afternoon. Alternate routes are strongly recommended.
Contact: Tadd Owens, (608) 245-5340, tadd.owens@dot.wi.gov

I-39/90/94
Location: Safety rest areas numbers 11 and 12
Schedule: 2009 construction season
Description: New rest area construction
Traffic impact: Various short duration lane and rest area closures.
Contact: Tim Verhage, Mead & Hunt, (608) 635-3822, tim.verhage@dot.wi.gov; or Reiny Yahnke, WisDOT, (608) 795-9050, reiny.yahnke@dot.wi.gov

Crawford County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Dane County

County B
Location: Village of Rockdale
Schedule: Sept. 29 - Nov. 20, 2009
Description: Bridge replacement over Koshkonong Creek
Traffic impact:  County B will be closed to through traffic. Detour posted along County PQ and WIS 73.
Contact: Mike Zeisler, LPMC, Oneida Total Integrated Enterprises (OTIE), (608) 243-6470, MZeisler@otiesolutions.com; or Joe Jirsa, Project Engineer, Donohue & Associates Inc., (608) 354-2348, jjirsa@donohue-associates.com

I-94
Location: Badger Interchange (east Madison) to County N (Cottage Grove)
Schedule: Aug. 10 - Nov. 25, 2009 (Stage 1)
Description: Stage 1: Construction of crossovers and temporary lanes. Project will expand I-94 from four to six lanes along five mile section; completion November 2011.
Traffic impact: Four lanes of traffic will remain open at all times with reduced speed in work zone.
Contact: John Steiner, (608) 789-7895, john.steiner@dot.wi.gov

US 51
Location: Albion/Haugen Road intersection
Schedule: July 13 - Nov. 20, 2009
Description: Intersection reconstruction.
Traffic impact: US 51, Albion and Haugen Road, and I-39 southbound ramps will remain open to traffic. A minimum 12-foot lane width will be provided at all times during construction.
Contact: Barry Larson, (608) 209-1626

US 151 (East Washington Avenue)
Location: Marquette Street to Pinecrest Drive, Madison
Schedule: February - December 2009
Description: Reconstruction of East Washington Avenue and bridge replacement over WIS 30. Includes reconstruction of Aberg Avenue/WIS 30 from McCormick Avenue to the railroad track east of Fair Oaks Avenue. The project includes work on Commercial Avenue (WIS 30 frontage roads), Fair Oaks Avenue between the two frontage roads, and the ramps at Fair Oaks Avenue. The project will reconstruct all the ramps at the East Washington Avenue and WIS 30 interchange.
Traffic impact: Traffic on East Washington Avenue is reduced to two lanes in each direction except for inbound East Washington Avenue traffic at WIS 30 is reduced to one lane. Traffic on WIS 30 is reduced to one lane in each direction. Additional lane closures may occur during off-peak travel times. Side streets may also be closed at various times during the construction period. Commercial Avenue is open to through traffic between Rethke Avenue and Fair Oaks Avenue. Eastbound WIS 30 off-ramp to Fair Oaks is closed.
Contact: Rob Phillips (city of Madison), (608) 266-4090, rphillips@cityofmadison.com; Curt Neuhauser, (608) 245-2676, curt.neuhauser@dot.wi.gov

Also see Dane and Iowa counties below.

Also see Dane and Jefferson counties below.

Also see Dane and Rock counties below.

Dane and Iowa counties

US 18
Location: (County Y to Town Hall Road), eastbound lane
Schedule: July 6 – Dec. 1, 2009
Description: Dowel bar retrofit and grinding
Traffic impact: Traffic down to one lane in the east bound direction for the duration of the project.
Contact: Tadd J. Owens, (608) 516-6451, tadd.owens@dot.wi.gov

Dane and Jefferson counties

I-94
Location: County N, Dane County, to Airport Rd., Jefferson County
Schedule: Sept. 18 - November 2009
Description: Resurfacing
Traffic impact: Nighttime (8 p.m. to 5 a.m.) single lane closures in both directions. 55 mph during lane closures. Single lane closure eastbound lane at WIS 73 interchange Monday through Wednesday, Oct. 5 - 7.
Contact: Jim Buschkopf, (608) 246-3851, james.buschkopf@dot.wi.gov 

Dane and Rock counties

I-39
Location: Drotning Road (Dane) to Townline Road (Rock)
Schedule: July 20 - Nov. 19, 2009
Description: Cable guard installation in median
Traffic impact: Daytime shoulder closures only. Lane closures 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. weekdays.
Contact: Brad Banfield, (563) 451-5548

Dodge County

WIS 33
Location: City of Horicon, Columbia Street to Palmatory Street
Schedule: March 16 - Nov. 20, 2009
Length: 1.4 miles
Description: Urban reconstruction
Construction cost: $6.5 million
Traffic impact: WIS 33 is closed to through traffic. A posted detour directs travelers to WIS 26, WIS 60 and WIS 67. 
Contact: Teri Schopp, Project Manager, (608) 245-2662, (608) 516-6467, teri.schopp@dot.wi.gov

Grant County

US 35
Location: West of Lancaster
Schedule: June 15 - Nov. 13, 2009
Description: Bridge replacement, grading and new pavement approach to bridge.
Traffic impact: Road closed to all traffic. Detour utilizes County N, County U and WIS 81.
Contact: Doreen McCarty, (608) 792-1736, doreen.mccarty@dot.wi.gov

WIS 133
Location: County N to Cassville
Schedule: March 16 - Nov. 22, 2009
Description: Total reconstruction of WIS 133 – grading, new pavement, etc.
Traffic impact: Road will be closed to through traffic with a detour in place. Detour WIS 81 and WIS 35 from Cassville to Potosi.
Contact: Tim Maedke, P.E., (608) 789-6317, timothy.maedke@dot.wi.gov

Green County

WIS 11
Location:  WIS 11 and WIS 69, Monroe
Schedule: Sept. 14 - Nov. 13, 2009
Description: Bridge overlay
Traffic impact: One lane open each direction on WIS 11.
Contact: Carrie Johnson, (815) 238-4994, carrie.johnson@dot.wi.gov

Iowa County

WIS 80
Location: County I to County P
Schedule: April 13 - Nov. 13, 2009
Description: Reconstruction of 3.94 miles of WIS 80 north of Highland.
Traffic impact: WIS 80 open to Highland.
Contact: Tadd J. Owens, (608) 516-6451, tadd.owens@dot.wi.gov

Also see Dane and Iowa counties above.

Jefferson County

WIS 26
Location: Jefferson Bypass (US 18 to Jahn Road)
Schedule: May 18, 2009 - August 2010
Description: New alignment, north half of Jefferson bypass.
Traffic impact: Minor delays to cross streets and side roads.
Contact: Teri Schopp, (608) 516-6467, teri.schopp@dot.wi.gov; Jeff Kaarto, (608) 516-6445, jeffrey.kaarto@dot.wi.gov

WIS 26
Location: Watertown Bypass (High Road to County T)
Schedule: June 29, 2009 - August 2011
Description: New alignment, south half of Watertown bypass.
Traffic impact: Minor delays to cross streets and side roads.
Contact: Teri Schopp, (608) 516-6467, teri.schopp@dot.wi.gov;  Jim Grender, (608) 712-0533

Also see Dane and Jefferson counties above.

Juneau County

See Monroe and Juneau counties below.

La Crosse County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Lafayette County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Monroe County

I-94
Location: Black River Falls - Tomah/Kirby
Schedule: Sept. 28 - Nov. 13, 2009
Description: Maintenance
Traffic impact: Single lane closures in each direction 6 a.m. - 10 a.m. Monday - Friday.
Contact: Chris Dahl, (608) 792-5809, christopher.dahl@dot.wi.gov

Richland County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Rock County

I-39
Location: Janesville
Schedule: Sept. 22 - Nov. 19, 2009
Description: Median safety barrier installation.
Traffic impact: Lane closures 8 p.m. - 6 a.m. Mon. - Fri.; daytime shoulder closures.
Contact: Gary Sassman, (608) 246-3859, gary.sassman@dot.wi.gov

I-43
Location: I-39 to WIS 140
Schedule: April 20, 2009 - Nov. 14, 2009
Description: Existing roadway will be rubblized and overlaid with asphalt, concrete overlays on bridge decks, installation of a virtual weigh station.
Traffic impact: Single lane of traffic both directions.
Contact: Doug Sina, (608) 516-3864, douglas.sina@dot.wi.gov

WIS 59 Milton Relocation Project
Location: Janesville - Fort Atkinson Road
Schedule: Sept. 15, 2009 - Nov. 25, 2009
Description: The project includes relocating WIS 59 on the east side of the City of Milton.
Traffic impact: County M traffic will be detoured using County KK and existing WIS 59 until Nov. 18, 2009. After Nov. 18, 2009 traffic will be switched to the new WIS 59. Beginning Nov. 16, traffic on existing WIS 59 between Sunnyside and Vickerman Road will be reduced to one lane for seven days with a temporary signal.
Contact: Tara Weiss, (608) 516-1725, tara.weiss@dot.wi.gov

Also see Dane and Rock counties above also.

Sauk County

US 12
Location: I-90/94 to Baraboo
Schedule: April 6, 2009 - Nov. 19, 2010
Description: US 12 bypass corridor
Traffic impact: No impact along existing US 12. Moon Road, east of existing US 12, has been re-opened with a roundabout.
Contact: Dale Merten, (608) 254-1913, dale.merten@dot.wi.gov

WIS 78
Location: Prairie du Sac, Merrimac Road and village of Merrimac, Main Street
Schedule: March 16 - Nov. 25, 2009
Description: Reconstruction - grading, new pavement, storm and sanitary sewer, etc.
Traffic impact: Road closed. WIS 78 detoured (US 12 - WIS 159 - County DL). Local access only. WIS 78 open from the ferry in Merrimac to WIS 113 north until July 15, 2009. Beginning July 16, WIS 78 north open from ferry in Merrimac, WIS 113 will be detoured on WIS 78 north to County DL.
Contact: Robert Lex, (608) 246-5622, robert.lex@dot.wi.gov

Vernon County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Walworth County

See Walworth and Waukesha counties below.

Walworth and Waukesha counties

I-43
Location: US 12 to WIS 83
Schedule: July 6 - Nov. 15, 2009
Description: Work consist of bridge deck overlays including asphalt pavement approaches for the bridges on I-43 over WIS 11, Townline Road, and the CN RR. Also included is the Bowers Road Bridge over I-43.
Traffic impact: I-43 construction operations will take place under live traffic with one 12-foot travel lane. Bowers Road will be closed to traffic during construction on the bridge. Work on the Bowers Road Bridge will begin after the last Alpine Valley concert or Sept. 8, 2009. Detour southbound Bowers Road traffic at County ES, east to WIS 120, south to County D, and west back to Bowers Road. Detour northbound Bowers Road traffic at County D, east to WIS 120, north  to County ES and west back to Bowers Road. I-43 exit traffic for northbound Bowers Road will exit at WIS 20 west to Bowers Road. I-43 exit traffic for southbound Bowers Road will exit at WIS 120 south to County D, and west to Bowers Road.
Contact: Red Shrader, Michael Baker Corp., (608) 852-6701, hshrader@mbakercorp.com

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:
Lois Losby, WisDOT Southwest Region Communications
(608) 785-9958, lois.losby@dot.wi.gov