WisDOT Northwest Region Construction Update - February 27

Release date: February 27, 2026

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.

Barron County

US 53 South

• Location:
  Bridges between Cameron and New Auburn: structures over US 8, Knapp Street, County A, County AA and Carlson School Road, 2025, and structures over 20th Street, County I and the Chetek River, 2026
• Schedule: May 5 to mid-November, 2025 construction; Feb. 23 to October 2026, total project completion.\
• Cost: $10.91 million
• Description of 2026 work: Replacing the decks on the bridges over the Chetek River and 20th Street; replacing the bridge over County I; milling pavement on both sides of each structure and placing new asphalt pavement on the approaches; milling and overlaying the pavement on the southbound US 53 on- and off-ramps at the County I interchange; and replacing guardrail, pavement markings and signage
• Traffic impacts: US 53 South remains open to traffic, but:
• Motorists will encounter lane closures in both directions on County I.
• The ramp from County I to southbound US 53 is scheduled to be closed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 4.
• During the ramp closure, motorists on County I will be detoured via northbound US 53 to US 8 (Exit 135, Barron and Cameron) and then back to southbound US 53.

Buffalo County

County P

• Location: Trempealeau River Bridge east of Fountain City in the town of Buffalo
• Schedule: Feb. 23 to mid-October
• Cost: $1.78 million
• Description: Building a temporary bypass and structure, replacing the bridge, reconstructing roadway approaches and removing the temporary bypass and structure.
• Traffic impacts: Motorists might encounter lane closures and flagging at the site during the mobilizing of equipment and materials.

Trempealeau County

Smikrud Road

• Location: Grant Creek Bridge south of Ettrick in the town of Gale
• Schedule: Feb. 19 to late May
• Cost: $580,541
• Description: Building a temporary bypass and structure, replacing the bridge, reconstructing roadway approaches and removing the temporary bypass and structure.
• Traffic impacts: Motorists are using a temporary bypass to get around the construction site.

• 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.