Northwest Region Construction Update - March 22

Release date: March 22, 2024

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.

Note: Forecasted snow could impact construction schedules next week.

Bayfield County
Highway: WIS 13
Location: Thompson Creek to 2nd Avenue West, city of Washburn
Schedule: March 11 to November
Cost: $8.32 million
Description: Replacing the pavement on WIS 13; replacing storm sewer, curb, gutter and sidewalk; replacing or upgrading all intersection curb ramps to meet Americans With Disabilities Act standards; and replacing streetlights. In addition, the city has a concurrent project replacing aging sewer and water utilities.
Traffic impacts: WIS 13 is closed to traffic from Thompson Road to 1st Avenue West, but vehicles can cross WIS 13 at 4th Avenue West and 8th Avenue West.

  • Traffic for vehicles 20,000 pounds or less is being detoured via West Bigelow Street, West Holman Lakeview Drive, Omaha Street East and 1st Avenue West.
  • Traffic for vehicles weighing more than 20,000 pounds is being detoured via US 2, County A and WIS 13.
  • The sidewalk on the north side of WIS 13 is expected to be closed to pedestrians the week of March 25, but the closure is weather dependent.
    • The sidewalk on the south side of WIS 13 will remain open for pedestrians.
    • Pedestrians also will be able to cross WIS 13 at 2nd Avenue West, 4th Avenue West and 8th Avenue West.

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Dunn County
Highway: I-94
Location: Safety and Weight Enforcement Facility (SWEF) on westbound I-94 east of Menomonie
Schedule: March 19 to November
Cost: $10.95 million
Description: Renovating and expanding the existing SWEF building; replacing the pavement in the parking lots and on the ramp/loop roadways; constructing an approximate 200-foot communications tower near the renovated SWEF building; reconfiguring the exit off I-94; constructing a new virtual weigh station along westbound US 12/WIS 29; and constructing a remote truck pull-off site along County B south of I-94 between Walton Avenue and 3M Drive in Dunn County. (The pull-off site will be constructed concurrently with a reconstruction project scheduled to start April 1 on County B from US 12/WIS 29 to the eastbound I-94 entrance and exit ramps at the I-94/County B interchange.)
Traffic impacts: The ramp to the SWEF is closed. Other impacts include:

  • Westbound I-94: Motorists will encounter outside lane closures during off-peak travel times through next week.
  • US 12/WIS 29: Beginning April 1, motorists will encounter a single-lane road controlled by temporary traffic signals on US 12/WIS 29 while work on the virtual weigh station is completed.

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Eau Claire County
Highway: I-94
Location: US 53 interchange to Mallard Road southwest of Eau Claire
Schedule: March 4, 2024, to November 2026
Cost: $69.9 million
Description: Removing and replacing the pavement on I-94 from Otter Creek to Mallard Road; resurfacing the shoulders and completing concrete pavement repair on I-94 and collector roads from the western project limits to Otter Creek; resurfacing the I-94/US 53 interchange, the approaching pavement on US 53 and the interchange ramps; widening the eastbound I-94 bridge over Otter Creek; removing and replacing the east- and westbound bridges over County D and County J with structures that meet vertical clearance requirements and are wide enough to handle future four-lane temporary traffic; removing and replacing a box culvert near County D; repairing storm sewer; and placing new pavement markings.
Traffic impacts: Motorists will encounter single-lane closures in both directions during nonpeak travel times.

  • The speed limit in the work zone will be decreased to 55 mph when lane closures are in place.

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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
Cost: $5.2 million
Description: Overlaying the bridge deck with concrete, repairing abutment back walls and replacing the bridge joints and concrete approach slabs on the westbound bridge over the Black River. Replacing the deck, pier caps and concrete approach slabs and repainting girders on the westbound bridge over the railroad tracks.
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 off-ramp from westbound I-94 to US 12/WIS 27 and the on-ramp from WIS 54 to westbound I-94 are closed.
  • 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.

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Pierce County - Updated
Highway: WIS 35
Location: Between Chestnut and Green streets in Maiden Rock
Schedule: Spring to October (Update: Construction was supposed to start March 18, but the start date has been pushed back to mid- to later April. However, crews are expecting to complete some brushing and clearing the week of March 25; that work is weather dependent.)
Cost: $846,790
Description: Replacing retaining walls at W3338 WIS 35 and W3487 WIS 35, removing a portion of the existing roadway pavement and overlay it with asphalt; replacing curb and gutter; installing a railing at W3338 WIS 35; and placing new pavement markings.
Traffic impacts: Motorists might encounter a lane closure during brushing and clearing.

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Pierce County
Highway: US 10
Location: WIS 29/35 in Prescott to the south junction of US 63 west of Ellsworth
Schedule: March 11 to October
Cost: $14.35 million
Description: Removing a portion of the existing pavement on the approximate 14-mile stretch of US 10 and placing new asphalt pavement; widening paved shoulders from 3 feet to 5 feet; replacing culverts at Spring Creek on US 10 just west of the 760th Street and 730th Street intersections west of Ellsworth; replacing existing box culverts on US 10 with bridges just east of 1040th Street and west of Cross Town Road; and replacing guardrail and pavement markings along the entire length of the project.
Traffic impacts: US 10 is closed between 1040th Street and 570th Avenue and between the south junction of US 63 and 760th Street.

  • Local detours are in place to direct traffic around the work zones.
  • Through traffic is being detoured via WIS 29/35 and WIS 65.

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.