Release date: August 29, 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.
Ashland County
WIS 13
- Location: Butterworth Road to US 2 in Ashland
- Schedule: March 31 to mid-November
- Cost: $9.87 million
- Description: From Butterworth Road to 16th Street: Removing 3¼ inches of existing pavement and overlaying the roadway with 3¼ inches of hot-mix asphalt; replacing deteriorated culverts; and repairing frost heaves. From 16th Street to 6th Street: Replacing the pavement structure with 9 inches of Portland cement concrete pavement, 6 inches of base aggregate, 12 inches of granular subbase and underdrain pipe; replacing storm sewer system, curb ramps, curb and gutter; replacing sidewalk at curb ramps and spot locations; adding a designated bike lane between the travel and parking lanes in each direction on Ellis Avenue; removing and hauling decorative lights to city yard for repainting and reinstalling in landscaped medians; and replacing portions of the city water main in a separate tied project. From 6th Street to US 2: Replacing Portland cement concrete and hot-mix asphalt pavement with 9 inches of Portland concrete cement pavement; extending medians and left-turn lanes, remove one through lane and add designated bike lanes in each direction; and upgrading curb ramps at city street and trail crossings.
- Traffic impacts: WIS 13 is open to traffic, but:
- From 16th Street to 6th St: North- and southbound traffic is operating on the northbound lanes.
- From 6th Street to US 2: North- and southbound traffic is operating on the southbound lanes.
- The following intersections are closed at WIS 13: Main Street East, 7th Street West, 8th Street West, 9th Street West, 10th Street West, 12th Street West and the Northland College northwest entrance.
- Truck traffic is being detoured via WIS 112 and US 2.
WIS 169
- Location: WIS 13 in Mellen to the Iron County line
- Schedule: June 16 to early October
- Cost: $7.1 million
- Description: Removing a portion of the existing pavement, pulverizing the subbase and injecting it with an asphaltic emulsion and then overlaying the roadway with 3.5 inches of new asphalt pavement; replacing the deck on the Bad River Bridge; replacing some culverts and placing new ones; repairing an eroding ditch; removing a railroad crossing, which the railroad will replace later; cleaning culverts and ditches where needed; adding centerline rumble strips; adjusting and/or replacing guardrail; enhancing gravel shoulders; and placing pavement markings.
- Traffic impacts: WIS 169 is closed to through traffic, with that traffic detoured via WIS 13, WIS 77, US 51 and US 2.
- Access to Copper Falls State Park and the North Country National Scenic Trail, as well as local residential traffic, is being maintained using WIS 77 to Olson Road to Butler Road to WIS 169 north of the bridge.
- Temporary traffic control signals have been set up on Butler Road west of East Tyler Avenue to control large noncommercial trailers and campers in the tight curved sections of Butler Road.
Barron County
US 53 South
- Location: Bridges over US 8, 20th Street, Knapp Street, County I, Chetek River, County A, County AA and Carlson School Road between Cameron and New Auburn
- Schedule: May 5 to mid-November, 2025 construction; March 1 to late September, total project completion.
- Cost: $10.91 million
- Description of 2025 work: Replacing the decks on the bridges over County AA and County A; overlaying the decks with concrete on structures over Carlson School Road, Knapp Street and US 8; making miscellaneous repairs to bridges; completing prep work for 2026 construction on the bridges over the Chetek River, County I and 20th Street; and replacing guardrail at the structures.
- Traffic impacts: US 53 South remains open to traffic, but:
- Motorists will encounter lane closures and a reduced speed limit of 60 mph in work zones.
- US 53 South reopens to two lanes of traffic, with a 70-mph speed limit between closures.
- There is a maximum width of 15 feet 3 inches on the open lane on most bridges.
- Motorists also will encounter intermittent daytime closures of the roads below the bridges during the work week.
US 63
- Location: Just west of WIS 48 West to Charrie Lane in Cumberland
- Schedule: April 28 to mid-September
- Cost: $3.68 million
- Description: Removing 3.25 inches of the existing pavement and placing 3.25 inches of new asphalt pavement; closing access to the roadway at various locations to improve safety; upgrading pedestrian curb ramps to current Americans With Disabilities Act standards; repairing or replacing curb, gutter and sidewalk; repairing sanitary sewer manholes and storm water inlets as needed; extending the two-way left-turn lane pavement markings between 3rd and 5th avenues; and replacing pavement markings and signage.
- Traffic impacts: US 63 remains open to traffic, but:
- North- and southbound traffic has 12-foot travel lanes through the entire project.
- The parking lane and shoulder are closed along the northbound lane.
- Once work resumes Tuesday, Sept. 2, motorists will encounter lane closures for pavement marking.
Bayfield County
WIS 13
- Location: Sand River Bridge between Cornucopia and Red Cliff
- Schedule: July 21 to early October
- Cost: $746,767
- Description: Replacing the expansion joints at each end of the bridge deck; removing and replacing the south edge of deck; installing stainless steel protective flashing and corrosion protection on the south edge of deck; replacing the concrete pavement approach slabs; paving approximately 25 feet of asphalt pavement; repairing the concrete surface at the abutments; replacing the south railing; salvaging and cleaning existing rebar; cleaning and painting the steel girder abutment bearings and the south exterior girder and painting the remaining girders at spot locations; sealing the bridge deck; and replacing pavement markings.
- Traffic impacts: The bridge is open to a single lane controlled by temporary traffic signals.
Burnett County
East James Avenue and Johnson Street
- Location: South Robert Street to WIS 70, Grantsburg
- Schedule: July 10 to late August
- Cost: $653,100
- Description: Removing the existing pavement, paving new asphalt pavement, updating sidewalk curb ramps and placing new pavement markings.
- Traffic impacts: None; project currently on hold.
Chippewa County
20th Avenue
- Location: Hay Creek Bridge southeast of Cadott
- Schedule: July 21 to early October
- Cost: $558,859
- Description: Replacing the bridge, roadway approach pavement and pavement markings.
- Traffic impacts: The road is closed at the bridge.
County G
- Location: Yellow River Bridge southeast of Cornell
- Schedule: July 8 to late October
- Cost: $1.29 million
- Description: Replacing the bridge, roadway approach pavement and pavement markings.
- Traffic impacts: The road is closed, with a posted detour.
County OO
- Location: Business 53 north of Melby Street to the WIS 124 intersection with Business 53 and County OO in Lake Hallie
Schedule: Aug. 11 to mid-October - Cost: $1.72 million
- Description: Removing the existing pavement between Business 53 and Hogarth Street, crushing it down into base material, placing that as road base and paving new asphalt over it; milling off a portion of the existing pavement from Hogarth to the north project limits and placing new asphalt pavement; constructing a segment of trail to tie into the existing trail west of County OO; marking an at-grade trail crossing on County OO at 30th Avenue; installing curb and gutter at various locations; shouldering; and placing new pavement markings.
- Traffic impacts: The southbound lane of County OO is open to southbound traffic.
- Northbound County OO traffic is being detoured via Business 53.
- Hogarth Street from Business 53 to the centerline of County OO is scheduled to be closed from Wednesday to Tuesday, Sept. 3-9.
- The closure is expected to start at 6 a.m. Sept. 3. During the closure:
- County OO will remain open to southbound traffic only from WIS 124/Business 53 south to Hogarth Street. There, southbound County OO traffic will be directed to follow Hogarth Street west, Robin Road south and Melby Street east to get back to Business 53.
- Northbound County OO traffic will continue to be detoured north on Business 53 to its intersection with County OO and WIS 124.
- Access will be maintained to US Bank via Hogarth Street.
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 mid-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: WIS 29 remains open, but:
- WIS 29:
- The 50th Avenue interchange is closed, and traffic is being detoured via County J and County X.
- Motorists will encounter single-lane closures with a possible speed limit reduction between County X and County J during working hours.
- The inside shoulders are closed at 50th Avenue.
- County J:
- County J remains open to traffic using shoulder closures, temporary roadways and flagging operations.
- 50th Avenue:
- The road is closed between Stillson Elementary School and 171st streets to September.
- The road also is closed east of County J to September.
- Access to residences and businesses is being maintained throughout construction using temporary roads and flagging.
WIS 124
- Location: Just south of the Duncan Creek Bridge to Bridge Street in Chippewa Falls
- Schedule: June 2 to late October
- Cost: $2.56 million
- Description: Removing a portion of the existing pavement and placing new asphalt pavement; replacing storm sewer on Elm Street; modifying traffic signals at Columbia Street, Grand Avenue, Central Street, Spring Street and River Street; and updating sidewalk curb ramps.
- Traffic impacts: None, but motorists are expected to encounter rolling pavement operations and flagging starting Wednesday, Sept. 3 and continuing into the following week.
US 53