Northwest Region Construction Update - November 22

Release date: November 22, 2023

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
Highway: WIS 13
Location: Jefferson Avenue in Mellen to Golf Course Road in the town of Morse
Schedule: April 10 to November
Cost: $8.67 million
Description: Reconstructing WIS 13 from Jefferson Avenue to the north city limits; replacing the Bad River Bridge; grading to improve slopes and drainage; replacing storm and sanitary sewer, water main, sidewalk curb ramps, curb and gutter; and paving parking lanes, all in Mellen. Resurfacing WIS 13 from the north city limits to Golf Course Road in the town.
Traffic impacts: None; project complete.


Douglas County
Highway: WIS 13
Location: Engdahl Road to County H north of Poplar
Schedule: June 12 to November (Updated)
Cost: $11.69 million
Description: Removing about 2 inches of existing pavement and overlaying WIS 13 with 3.25 inches of hot mix asphalt; cleaning, replacing or placing liners in culverts; replacing substandard guardrail and curb and gutter where needed; repairing flumes; and adding new pavement markings and centerline rumble strips.
Traffic impacts: Motorists might encounter periodic single-lane closures as finishing work is completed.


Highway: Northbound US 2/53
Location: Northwest of the intersection of US 2 and US 53 in the town of Amnicon
Schedule: Oct. 23 to November 2023 and summer 2024
Cost: $623,268
Description: Placing liners in two culverts to restore proper drainage.
Traffic impacts: None; work is expected to resume in 2024. 


Dunn County
Highway: WIS 79
Location: Bridges over Coon and Clack creeks between Menomonie and Boyceville
Schedule: Aug. 28 to late November
Cost: $2.07 million
Description: Removing and replacing the bridges, roadway pavement on both sides of the structures, guardrail, signage and pavement markings.
Traffic impacts: None; project complete.


St. Croix County
Highway: Powell Avenue
Location: Kinnickinnic River Bridge, River Falls
Schedule: Aug. 8 to November (Updated)
Cost: $1 million
Description: Rehabilitating the bridge.
Traffic impacts: The road is closed at the bridge, but it's expected to reopen to traffic before the end of next week.


Highway: I-94
Location: Safety and weight enforcement facility (SWEF) off eastbound I-94 east of Hudson
Schedule: Sept. 12, 2022, to November 2023 (Updated)
Cost: $21.98 million
Description: Replacing the existing SWEF building with a modern one, reconstructing the parking lots and ramp/loop roadways and constructing an automated truck traffic monitoring system along eastbound I-94, a virtual weigh station along US 12 and an approximate 300-foot communications tower near the new building.
Traffic impacts: Motorists on eastbound I-94 will encounter a continuous outside shoulder closure at SWEF ramp locations.


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