Work includes replacing culverts carrying Little Whittlesey Creek with a bridge
Release date: June 1, 2026
To invest in Wisconsin’s transportation system, Gov. Tony Evers has signed a $1.5 million contract with prime contractor Northern Interstate Construction, Inc., of South Range, for the removal of three culverts that carry Little Whittlesey Creek under WIS 13 and construction of a bridge south of the Bayfield County city of Washburn. Construction is scheduled to start Monday, June 8.
Installed in 1981, the culverts have reached the end of their service lives. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation project includes:
Constructing a temporary bypass to carry WIS 13 traffic during construction
Replacing the culvert pipes with a bridge
Milling and paving about 1,000 feet of pavement approaching the bridge
Restoring the stream bed
Installing new guardrail
The installation of guardrail will result in relocating the driveway of the US Fish and Wildlife Service facility slightly to the north. The existing driveway will remain open until the new one is built, and the property will be restored to its original condition after construction.
Adding riprap
Removing the temporary bypass
During construction, WIS 13 will remain open to traffic, but motorists will encounter daytime single-lane closures controlled by flagging as crews build a temporary bypass and structure to carry traffic during construction of the new bridge.
Construction is scheduled for completion in mid-October.
For more information, visit the project’s construction
website.
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.
For more information regarding traffic impacts, transportation news and improvement project updates in Wisconsin’s Northwest Region:
For more information, contact:
Christena T. O'Brien, Northwest Region Communications Manager
(715) 833-9814, (715) 828-9471,
christena.obrien@dot.wi.gov