WisDOT Northwest Region Construction Update - March 14

Release date: March 14, 2025

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) provides weekly updates on road construction projects in the following counties in northwest Wisconsin: Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Rusk, St. Croix, Sawyer, Taylor, Trempealeau and Washburn counties.

Buffalo County

Highway: County KK
Location: Lee Valley Creek Bridge in the town of Modena northwest of the city of Alma

Schedule: March 6 to late April
Cost: $385,991
Description: Removing and replacing the bridge and the approach pavement on both sides of the structure.
Traffic impacts: County KK is closed on both sides of the bridge.

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Chippewa County

Highway: WIS 29
Location: 50th Avenue interchange and the intersection of 50th Avenue and County J, all in the town of Lafayette east of Chippewa Falls
Schedule: March 11 to early September
Cost: $5.26 million
Description: For the WIS 29/50th Avenue interchange project: Removing and replacing the bridge, building retaining walls along east- and westbound WIS 29 at the abutments, replacing the roadway approach pavement and the pavement on the interchange ramps and replacing culverts, guardrail and pavement markings. This project will increase the vertical clearance of the bridge over the highway. For the 50th Avenue/County J intersection project: Constructing a single-lane roundabout, completing approach work on all legs leading into the roundabout, increasing the roadway profile an average of three feet to accommodate the profile rise of the new bridge and replacing storm sewer.
Traffic impacts: Motorists can expect the following impacts on:

• WIS 29:
• The 50th Avenue interchange closed to traffic today and will be closed to September. Traffic is being detoured via County J and County X.
• The inside shoulders on east- and westbound WIS 29 are closed at 50th Avenue through mid-May
• WIS 29 will be fully closed overnight from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. - beginning at 9 p.m. Monday, March 17 and ending 6 a.m. Friday, March 21. Traffic will be detoured via County J and County X.
• County J:
• The highway will remain open to traffic throughout construction using temporary roadway and flagging operations.
• 50th Avenue:
• The road is closed between Stillson Elementary School and 171st streets to September.
• Traffic is being detoured using 160th Street, 40th Avenue, County J and County X.
• Access to residences and businesses is being maintained throughout construction.

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Highway: US 53
Location: 40th Avenue in Lake Hallie to County B in the town of Tilden
Schedule: April 1, 2024, to late June 2026, overall project; and March 10 to late October, 2025 construction.
Cost: $36.6 million
Description: Replacing the pavement on US 53 and interchange ramps at Business 29/County X, County S and County B. Work in 2025 includes replacing the pavement on northbound US 53 and constructing temporary emergency pullouts south of County N; making repairs and completing polymer overlays on the northbound US 53 bridges over the Chippewa River and Business 29/County X; replacing the pavement on the on- and off-ramps at the County B and Business 29/County X interchanges; replacing the pavement on southbound US 53 north of County N, including the north- and southbound passing lanes north of County B; milling and overlaying the shoulder between County B and County Q along the driving lane of southbound US 53; replacing guardrail; completing culvert work; and installing new pavement markings and shoulder rumble strips.
Traffic impacts: North- and southbound traffic on US 53 is operating on the southbound lanes between 40th Avenue and County N. In addition:

• The off-ramp from northbound US 53 to Business 29/County X and the on-ramp to northbound US 53 from Business 29/County X are closed to traffic.
• The ramps on southbound US 53 at the interchange are open to traffic.
• The speed limit is reduced through the work zone.

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Clark County

Highway: County M
Location: South Fork of the Eau Claire River Bridge in the town of Hendren south of Thorp
Schedule: Jan. 22 to Oct. 7, 2025
Cost: $2.81 million
Description: Removing and replacing the bridge, replacing the concrete approach slabs and guardrail and completing shoulder work.
Traffic impacts: County M is closed between Crystal Waters Court and Rock Creek Road.

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Jackson County

Highway: I-94
Location: Bridges over the Black River in the city of Black River Falls and the Union Pacific railroad tracks in the town of Brockway
Schedule: Sept. 5, 2023, to October 2025, overall project; and Feb. 24 to late May, 2025 bridge construction, and Sept. 9 to mid-October, crossover removal, 2025 completion.
Cost: $5.2 million
Description: Rehabilitating both sets of structures. Work in 2025 on the eastbound bridges includes overlaying the bridge decks with concrete; repainting bridge girders; replacing expansion joints, wing walls, approach pavement and guardrail; and placing new pavement markings. In addition, the median crossovers will be removed.
Traffic impacts: I-94 has been reduced to a single lane through the construction zone in each direction. In addition:

• Traffic is being switched between east- and westbound lanes using median crossovers.
• The speed limit in the work zone has been reduced to 55 mph.
• Motorists should be aware traffic backups are likely during peak travel hours.

Motorists are reminded that using handheld cell phones in Wisconsin work zones is illegal. Alerts and updates provided via these sites are not intended for use while driving. When driving, your focus should always be on driving.