By Gene Kemmeter

The Portage County Highway Department will complete two County Highway reconstruction projects and one County Highway resurfacing project among its maintenance and construction projects planned for 2018.

The reconstruction projects include County Highway I from County Highway Z to Collins Lake Lane in the town of Sharon and County Highway P from County Highway G north to County Highway G south in the village of Junction City. The resurfacing will be County Highway F from Highway 54 to County Highway W in the town of Grant.

Portage County Highway Commissioner Nathan Check announced the projects earlier this month during National Work Zone Awareness Week April 9-13, sponsored by federal, state and local transportation officials to draw attention to the safety needs of road workers during construction season.

Check said motorists can expect speed-limit reductions on many of the county’s construction and maintenance projects throughout the year. He pointed out that Wisconsin recorded more than 2,700 work zone crashes that resulted in 1,067 injuries and six fatalities according to preliminary state figures for 2017. That continues a trend of well over 2,000 work zone crashes in each of the last three years.

The week is designed to highlight the vulnerability of highway and emergency workers who work along roads every day, but motorists and their passengers are the most common work zone fatalities, he said.

“National Work Zone Awareness Week is a great campaign,” Check said, “But it is critical that the traveling public follows the rules of the road in work zones year-round. Please remember that our road workers are just like everyone else. They want to do a good job and make it home to their families at night. Things happen very fast in work ones, even with reduced speed limits.”

He pointed out that Wisconsin Act 305 was passed Oct. 1, 2016 to make it illegal to talk on a handheld mobile device while driving in a Wisconsin road work zone. Drivers caught in violation face fines of up to $40 on first offense and $100 for subsequent offenses. The law is simple, he said. “Just remember: Orange cones – Put down the phones.”

April weather has already delayed one of the projects. The County Highway I project was scheduled to begin this month, but will now begin in May.

The project will consist of reconstructing the entire roadway to improve drainage, horizontal and vertical alignment, and flatten side slopes. The road base will be widened to accommodate 11-foot travel lanes and 5-foot shoulders, with one-inch paved and 4 inches of gravel. All culverts will be replaced along the project, and sight distance will be improved with hills and curves being realigned for safety.

The County Highway P project is actually a continuation of the 2017 project, and the road will be closed to through-traffic throughout construction slated to begin in May. The remaining work includes asphalt paving, gravel shouldering, sign replacements and pavement markings.

With the road closed, access will be provided to adjacent residences and businesses, as well as emergency vehicles, but all other traffic should utilize alternate routes.

The County Highway F resurfacing project is scheduled to begin in June. The roadway will be resurfaced, which includes pulverizing the existing pavement, grading, replacing culverts, asphalt paving, gravel shouldering, pavement markings and sign replacements as needed.

F will be closed to through-traffic throughout construction. Access will be provided to adjacent residences and businesses, as well as emergency vehicles during construction, but all other traffic should follow the signed detour route which will include STH 54, County Highway U and County Highway W.

Starting in May, the Highway Department will also begin crack-filling and chip-sealing on approximately 44 miles of county highways. Deficient culverts will be replaced, and cracks will be filled with rubber crack filler. Road repairs will be wedged with asphalt prior to the chip-seal process, and new pavement markings will be installed.

A majority of these roads will remain open to local traffic during chip-sealing and sweeping, with reduced speed limits. Traffic is encouraged to utilize alternate routes until all roads are swept.

Additional information on specific projects can be found on the website at www.co.portage.wi.us/department/highway-department/construction-updates. There will also be additional information posted regarding the multiple state maintenance projects which the county will perform in 2018. Any questions may be directed to the Portage County Highway Department at 715-345-5230.

While typical construction work zones are prevalent throughout the county and state, there are also a significant number of maintenance and emergency operations that may be short-term or moving operations, Check said.

Drivers are reminded of the state’s “Move Over, Slow Down” law which requires drivers to shift lanes or slow down in order to provide a “safety zone” for a squad car, ambulance, fire truck, tow truck, utility vehicle or highway maintenance vehicle that is stopped on the side of a road with its warning lights flashing.

This law is important because as not all work zones are limited to major construction zones, he said. These can include daily maintenance, emergency vehicle stops, utility work and even garbage pickup.