Location
WIS 21, Madison Street to WIS 22, Waushara County
Overview
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is in the process of developing an improvement project on WIS 21 between Coloma and Wautoma in Waushara County.
The purpose of the project is to address the existing asphalt pavement, which is showing signs of deterioration and has reached the end of its service life. In addition, there is a crash history at the intersection with County B due to restricted sight distance. The project will improve sight distance and safety at this intersection through Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funding.
In the fall of 2019, the project underwent a scope change. Based on updated pavement design practices, the scope change was made to ensure that the proposed improvement and pavement structure can accommodate traffic loading for years to come, while also improving safety along the roadway. The change in scope resulted in changes to project schedule and anticipated real estate impacts, all of which are described below.
Proposed improvements
Proposed improvements include pulverizing and relaying the existing asphalt pavement and placing 5.75” of new asphalt pavement on top. The raise in roadway profile will result in side slope grading along the entire corridor. In addition, the hill west of County B will be lowered and reconstructed to improve sight distance at the intersection. Additional improvements include:
- Replacement of curb and gutter
- Replacement or removal of beam guard,
- Replacement or extension of select culvert pipes, including on the W Branch of Little Pine Creek and the three branches of Lunch Creek.
- Repairs to the structure over Mecan River
- Widening of paved shoulders to 6-ft from Coloma to County B and at the end of the project in Wautoma to accommodate Amish buggy traffic and bicyclists.
- Replacement of pavement marking and signing
Traffic impacts during construction
- WIS 21 will be closed and detoured for approximately 4-5 months in the summer of 2023
- Detour will be I-39 to WIS 73 to WIS 22 (see detour map)
- WIS 21 will be open to local traffic with spot closures at culvert replacement and hill grading locations
Real Estate
- Permanent and temporary strip acquisitions will be required at various locations throughout the project to accommodate grading operations.
Schedule
- Public involvement: July/August 2020
- Real estate acquisition: Winter 2021 through Summer 2022
- Submittal of final plans: August 2022
- Construction: Summer 2023