Construction to resume on US 53 pavement replacement project

Work in 2026 to include replacing southbound pavement south of County N

Release date: February 25, 2026

Construction on the third year of a multiyear pavement replacement project on US 53 in Chippewa County from 40th Avenue in Lake Hallie to County B in Tilden is set to resume Monday, March 2.

This segment of US 53 has reached the end of its service life. To address this, construction in 2026 includes:

• Replacing the pavement on southbound US 53 south of County N
• Widening the shoulder on the ramp from Business 29/County X to southbound US 53
• Placing polymer overlays on the north- and southbound US 53 bridges over the Chippewa River and Business 29/County X
• Replacing guardrail
• Completing culvert work
• Building a permanent maintenance crossover
• Installing new pavement markings and shoulder rumble strips
• Removing temporary crossovers used during construction

During construction in 2026, US 53 will remain open to traffic, but motorists will encounter lane and interchange ramp closures, including the following:

• The ramp from BUS 29/County X to southbound US 53 will be closed from March 2 until Memorial Day.
• The ramp from southbound US 53 to BUS 29/County X and ramps on and off northbound US 53 at the BUS 29/County X interchange will be closed intermittently from March 2 to late June.

Construction on the $36.6 million project began in April 2024, and the project is scheduled for completion in late June. James Peterson Sons, Inc. of Medford is the prime contractor.

For more information, visit the project’s 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.