Chippewa County: WIS 27, Cornell to Ladysmith

Location

The 10.29-mile project on WIS 27 begins approximately 350 feet east of South 8th Street in the city of Cornell and continues through the town of Estella and ends in the town of Lake Holcombe in Chippewa County at the Rusk County line.

Overview

The pavement in this segment of WIS 27 is showing signs of deterioration along with one culvert. To address this and other issues, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation is proposing:

  • Resurfacing the existing asphaltic pavement with multiple resurfacing treatments
    • Milling the surface layer of the existing pavement and overlaying with roadway with multiple new layers of hot-mix asphalt (HMA) pavement
    • Milling the surface layer of the existing pavement, recycling the remaining existing asphaltic pavement, mixing it with a stabilizing agent and overlaying recycled pavement with multiple new layers of HMA pavement
  • Replacing, repairing or cleaning culverts to ensure proper drainage
    • This work includes replacing the culvert carrying Buck Creek south of East Fisher Drive/250th Avenue.
  • Replacing guardrail and grading side slopes to meet current design standards
  • Constructing a single-lane temporary bypass road and structure for maintaining traffic and removing both once work is complete
  • Placing a polymer overlay on the decks of the bridges over the Fisher River and Holcombe Flowage
  • Installing centerline and shoulder rumble strips for the total length of the project
  • Placing new pavement markings

The project also includes the following proposed work at the wayside and boat landing on the east side of WIS 27 north and south of 303rd Avenue:

  • Resurfacing the pavement
  • Replacing the concrete boat ramp
  • Making repairs to the dock
  • Abandoning a well

Schedule

Construction currently is scheduled for 2028.

Traffic Impacts

During construction, WIS 27 will remain open to through traffic.

  • During pavement resurfacing, culvert and guardrail work, motorists will encounter:
    • Daytime single-lane closures controlled by flagging operations during working hours
    • Shoulder closures at culvert and guardrail locations during non-work hours
    • Maintained access to business and residential driveways; however, single driveways will be closed for short periods of time during resurfacing operations.
  • During bridge work at the Fisher River and Holcombe Flowage, motorists will encounter a single lane of traffic controlled by temporary traffic signals.
  • During culvert replacement at Buck Creek, WIS 27 will remain open to a single lane of traffic using a temporary road and structure built on the west side of the highway controlled by temporary traffic signals.

Public Involvement

WisDOT is seeking public input on the proposed project. Please review the following for additional information:

Comments are being accepted through Jan. 5, 2026, by:

  • Email: nicholas.pitsch@dot.wi.gov
  • Mail: Wisconsin Department of Transportation
    718 W. Clairemont Ave.
    Eau Claire, WI 54701
    Attn.: Nick Pitsch

Contacts

Max Sebesta
WisDOT Northwest Region Consultant Project Manager
(608) 667-4377, (715) 529-8897
maxwell.sebesta@wsp.com

Nick Pitsch
WisDOT Northwest Region Supervisor
(715) 392-7976, (715) 225-1271
nicholas.pitsch@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