North Central Region Road Construction Update
For the City-Times
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) provides a weekly update on road construction in North Central Wisconsin, which includes: Adams, Green Lake, Florence, Forest, Iron, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Marquette, Menominee, Oneida, Portage, Price, Shawano, Vilas, Waupaca, Waushara, and Wood counties.
Construction-related traffic impacts are subject to change and are dependent on favorable weather conditions and construction status.
Lincoln County
Highway: WIS 17
Location: County G and Norwegian Road
Schedule: September 30 to October 18, 2013
Cost: $149,000
Description: Crews will improve the WIS 17/County G intersection.
Traffic impacts: During construction, WIS 17 will remain open to traffic. Motorists can expect to encounter single lane closures and flagging operations.
Highway: US 51
Location: at Lincoln County C/North Star Road, town of Merrill
Schedule: May 13 to October 11, 2013
Cost: $1.8 million
Description: Crews will construct an overpass of US 51 at this location, removing at-grade access to the freeway.
Traffic impacts: During construction, motorists on US 51 can expect to encounter single lane closures.
Marathon County
Highway: WIS 153
Location: Maple Street to Park Street, village of Elderon
Schedule: July 16 to November 1, 2013 Cost: $1.3 million Description: Crews will reconstruct WIS 153, the intersection of WIS 49/153, and upgrade storm sewer.
Traffic impacts:
- WIS 153 is closed and detoured via I-39, WIS 29, and WIS 49. WIS 153 will remain open to local traffic and emergency services only. Pedestrian access will be maintained on the north side of WIS 153.
- Crews plan to reopen WIS 153 as early as Friday, October 11.
- Following the reopening of WIS 153, crews will begin the reconstruction of the WIS 49/153 intersection. This work is currently scheduled to begin as early as Monday, October 14. During this stage, WIS 49 will be closed to through traffic and detoured via WIS 161, WIS 110, US 45, and WIS 29.
Highway: US 51 (*updated*)
Location: Marathon County U and K/Business 51 interchange, Wausau
Schedule: April 1, 2013 to late November 2014 Cost: $28 million Description: Crews will reconstruct the interchange.
Traffic impacts:
- The temporary southbound US 51 on-ramp from County K is open. The southbound US 51 on-ramp from County U will remain closed through mid-October.
- Motorists on northbound and southbound US 51 can expect to encounter single lane closures. The freeway will be open to two lanes in each direction during peak traffic hours, holidays and on weekends.
- The speed limit is reduced to 55 MPH in the work zone. Motorists are reminded to drive with caution
- Motorists can expect periodic, temporary closures of interchange ramps.
- The northbound US 51 off-ramp to County U is open.
- The temporary northbound US 51 off-ramp to County K is closed. Traffic exiting to County K/Business 51 will be detoured on the northbound US 51 off-ramp to County U, and Merrill Avenue/County U.
Highway: I-39/US 51 southbound (*updated*)
Location: Between Business 51 and Foxglove Road
Schedule: September 10, 2012 to May 2014 Cost: $12.2 million Description: Crews will reconstruct the southbound I-39/US 51 lanes just south of the Business 51 interchange to north of Foxglove Road. The I-39/US 51 structure over Business 51 will be replaced and widened. The structure over the Wisconsin River will be re-decked and widened. A recently detected subgrade voidresulted in an isolated pavement collapse in the new southbound lanes of I-39 between Business 51 and the Wisconsin River. The newly reconstructed southbound lanes have not been opened to traffic and the situation poses no safety risk to the traveling public. Crews plan to strengthen the subgrade at this location by filling it with concrete material. This work is scheduled to begin no later than Monday, October 7. Following the soil reinforcement measures, crews will place the final layer of pavement over the southbound lanes. The new southbound lanes are expected to reopen in early November, as scheduled.
Traffic impacts: The speed limit in the work zone is reduced to 55 MPH. Business 51 is open to one lane in each direction. The off-ramp to Business 51 (Exit 185) is scheduled to close Thursday, October 10, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. The closure is necessary for crews to complete asphalt paving.
Highway: WIS 29 (*updated*)
Location: Between WIS 107 and County O
Schedule: August 13, 2012 to mid-November 2013 Cost: $23.5 million Description: Improvements include: installation of a storm sewer system to collect rainwater and snowmelt; conversion of the two-way, center turn lane into a safety barrier median; removal of all existing at grade intersections besides 144th Avenue which will have right-in and right-out access provided by westbound WIS 29; Maratech Drive will be extended to 144th Avenue; and County O will be realigned to WIS 29 and a new WIS 29/County O interchange will be constructed.
Traffic impacts:
- Blasting operations are completed.
- County O (from WIS 29 to Highland Avenue) is closed. The closure is necessary to continue construction of the new WIS 29/County O interchange and the new alignment of County O, north of WIS 29.
- All side road access to WIS 29 (between WIS 107 and County O), except at 144th Avenue, have been permanently closed. 144th Avenue will remain open to right-in/right-out traffic along westbound WIS 29.
- WIS 29 is reduced to one lane in each direction.
- Motorists are reminded to drive with caution in the work zone and should be prepared to encounter slow moving vehicles.
Oneida County
Highway: US 51
Location: Front Street to Old Hwy 70, Minocqua
Schedule: March 28 to late November 2013 Cost: $4.6 million Description: Crews will reconstruct the roadway; enhance pedestrian and bicycle accommodations via a wider outside travel lane for on-street bike users as well as a wider sidewalk; install a HAWK (High-Intensity Activated crossWalK) crosswalk just south of Rogers Drive; install new street lighting; replace storm, sanitary and water lines.
Traffic impacts:
- US 51 is reduced to one lane in each direction between Huber Lane and WIS 70. Motorists can expect to encounter flagging operations.
- Motorists may encounter delays and are reminded to use caution when traveling through the work zone.
- For more information about how the Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB) crosswalk, located south of Rogers Drive, operates visit the WisDOT Web site http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/phb/index.htm
Price County
Highway: WIS 182
Location: Hay Creek Culvert, town of Eisenstein
Schedule: September 23 to mid-November 2013
Cost: $618,000
Description: Crews will mill replace the existing culvert and reconstruct the roadway approaches.
Traffic impacts: During construction, the roadway will remain open to traffic. Motorists can expect to encounter one way traffic and temporary signals through the work zone.
Vilas County
Highway: US 51
Location: Vilas County M to County W
Schedule: September 23 to late October 2013
Cost: $1.3 million
Description: Crews will mill approximately five miles of the existing roadway and repave it with new asphalt.
Traffic impacts: US 51 will remain open to traffic. Motorists can expect to encounter single lane closures with flagging operations.
Highway: WIS 47 (*updated*)
Location: West Bolton Lake Lane (Woodruff) to County D (Lac du Flambeau)
Schedule:July 15 to October 25, 2013
Cost: $3.5 million
Description: Crews will replace pavement, make intersection improvements, improve drainage, and place curb and gutter within the urban area of the project.
Traffic impacts: Motorists traveling north between Bolton Lake Road and County D can expect to encounter temporary lane closures and flagging operations.
Wood County
Highway: WIS 54 and WIS 173 (*updated*)
Location: WIS 54 (WIS 80 to Wood County G), and WIS 173 (Cranberry Ditch Crossing bridge to County GG)
Schedule: August 5 to October 14, 2013
Cost: $2.8 million
Description: Crews are resurfacing the highway, correcting a substandard curve to meet current design standards, and replacing a culvert.
Traffic impacts: During the remainder of construction motorists on WIS 54 and WIS 173 can expect to encounter daytime single lane closures and flagging operations. To avoid delays motorists are advised to plan ahead or find an alternate route.
Highway: WIS 73/80
Location: Yellow River bridge (Pittsville); Rocky Creek (Pittsville); and two Beaver Creek bridges (south of Marshfield)
Schedule: June 3 to November 22, 2013
Cost: $3.2million
Description: Crews are replacing four bridges.
Traffic impacts: WIS 80 is closed to through traffic between County EE and US 10. The closure is necessary for crews to replace the existing structures and approached over the two Beaver Creek bridges. Traffic is detoured via County A to US 10 until late November.
Highway: WIS 73 (*updated*)
Location: WIS 13/73 intersection, town of Saratoga
Schedule: April 15 to November 1, 2013
Cost: $2.9 million
Description: Crews will realign WIS 73 from Seven Mile Creek to WIS 13, continuing west on WIS 73, and ending just east of Carousel Court; shifting the roadway onto existing Mill Avenue. Improvements include storm sewer installation, intersection improvements, added turn lanes, median islands, lighting and traffic signals. The south intersection of WIS 13 and WIS 73 will be removed. Existing WIS 73 (new Branding Iron Court), east of WIS 13 will be resurfaced.
Traffic impacts:
- The new alignment of WIS 73 is open to traffic. The existing WIS 73 south intersection with WIS 13 is permanently closed.
- Mill Avenue, between WIS 13 and 52nd Street, is open.
- WIS 73 and WIS 13 are reduced to one lane of traffic in each direction until late October.
- Motorists can expect to encounter temporary traffic signals on WIS 73 in the town of Saratoga, approximately one half mile south of the intersection with WIS 13.
Motorists are reminded to drive with caution in the work zone and should be prepared to encounter slow moving trucks. 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.
For more information regarding traffic impacts in the North Central Region:
- Follow us on Twitter: @511WI_NoCentral for regional alerts from the Traffic Incident Alert System and for construction related traffic advisories.
- Check the Wisconsin Department of Transportation 511 Web site: www.511wi.gov
Alerts and updates provided via these sites are not intended for use while driving. When driving, your focus should always be on driving.