Location
WIS 35 south of I-94 between the High Ridge Drive/Hanley Road interchange and Stageline Road in the St. Croix County city of Hudson.
Overview
In recent years, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation has heard concerns from the public regarding the current traffic noise levels on WIS 35 near its intersection with High Ridge Drive and Hanley Road, prompting WisDOT to open an additional study of noise levels in this area to supplement a previous noise analysis completed for the installation of a noise wall on the west side of WIS 35.
To determine the future noise levels on the corridor, the Traffic Noise Model (TNM) from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) was used. The TNM was first calibrated to existing conditions after existing noise readings were taken in the field at the end of June 2023. Once the model was calibrated, future traffic volumes from 2037 were input via a traffic forecast developed by WisDOT, and an impact determination was made.
Because of that, the process continued, and noise abatement options were considered for impacted properties, and three noise walls have been proposed as the appropriate abatement measure:
- One on the west side of WIS 35 south of the existing noise wall between the highway and Heritage Boulevard. This would be an extension of the existing wall.
- A second on the east side of WIS 35 southwest of Meadows Park and northwest of the Canary Way cul-de-sac.
- And a third on the east side of WIS 35 between the highway and Meadowlark Drive and Meadowlark Lane.
WisDOT conducted a voting process between October 2023 and January 2024, with benefited property owners receiving ballots to vote for or against building noise barriers. Those voting supported constructing the three walls, and all will move forward into design and construction.
Schedule
Construction could occur at the earliest in 2025.
Traffic Impacts
During construction, WIS 35 will remain open to traffic, but motorists will encounter lane closures as the walls are anticipated to be built approximately 10 feet off the existing highway right of way and might require roadway shoulder reconstruction.
Project Documents
WisDOT held a public involvement meeting on this project in October 2023. Here are the materials presented at that meeting:
Contacts
Daniel Rambo
WisDOT Northwest Region Project Manager
(715) 514-7255
daniel.rambo@dot.wi.gov
Jim Koenig
WisDOT Northwest Region Project Supervisor
(715) 838-8391
james.koenig@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 (WisDOT)
Northwest Region, Eau Claire Office
718 W. Clairemont Ave.
Eau Claire, WI 54701
(715) 836-2891, (800) 991-5285
WI Telecommunications Relay System (TTY): 711
nwr.dtsd@dot.wi.gov