Location
US 53 from County B in the town of Tilden to WIS 64 in the town of Bloomer, all in Chippewa County.
Overview
This segment of US 53 is nearing the end of its service life. The pavement on US 53 and at the interchanges at WIS 40 and WIS 64 is cracked and rutted. In addition, the bridges over County B, County Q and WIS 40 also are deteriorating. Rehabilitation of the pavement is no longer cost effective. This project will:
- Remove and replace the existing pavement with new concrete pavement and a new aggregate drainage layer on US 53 and the WIS 40 and WIS 64 interchange ramps and along WIS 40 and WIS 64 between the ramps.
- Repair the US 53 bridges over County B, County Q and WIS 40.
- Replace culverts, guardrail, pavement marking, right-of-way fencing and rumble strips.
- If existing right-of-way fencing helps to contain livestock, property owners are asked to contact WisDOT, so staff can coordinate with them during the replacement of the fence.
The concrete pavement on US 53 originally was constructed in the 1970s, and the highway was last resurfaced in the mid-2000s.
Schedule - Updated
Construction currently is scheduled to begin in 2030, but the work could be advanced to 2028 if funding becomes available.
Traffic Impacts
- Construction of temporary crossovers is proposed to manage traffic movements between north- and southbound US 53 during construction. Temporary crossovers also will be constructed to provide access at the interchanges.
- Motorists can expect to encounter single-lane closures and bidirectional traffic conditions on each side of US 53.
- Speeds will be reduced to 60 miles per hour.
- During construction on the interchange ramps at WIS 40 and WIS 64, ramps will be closed for designated periods to allow for pavement replacement.
- Full interchange closures will not be allowed.
- Ramp closures will not occur at consecutive interchanges at the same time.
- Along the crossroad through each interchange, traffic will be managed as follows:
- County B: During bridge deck repair work, through traffic (east-west) will always be maintained along County B with a single lane and temporary traffic signals.
- WIS 40: Through traffic (east-west) will always be maintained with single-lane closures and bidirectional traffic conditions on WIS 40.
- WIS 64: Through traffic (east-west) will always be maintained along WIS 64 with a single lane and temporary traffic signals.
-
Preliminary construction staging
Project Documents
Contacts
Nicole Passuello
WisDOT Northwest Region Project Supervisor
(715) 833-5572
nicole.passuello@dot.wi.gov
Christena T. O’Brien
WisDOT Northwest Region Communications Manager
(715) 833-9814, (715) 828-9471
christena.obrien@dot.wi.gov
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Northwest Region, Eau Claire Office
718 W. Clairemont Ave.
Eau Claire, WI 54701
(715) 836-2891, (800) 991-5285
nwr.dtsd@dot.wi.gov