Resurfacing project on US 8 in Rusk County to start

Public information meeting set to provide details on upcoming work

Release date: April 25, 2024

To invest in Wisconsin's transportation system, Gov. Tony Evers has signed an $8.78 million contract with prime contractor Monarch Paving Co. of Amery for a resurfacing project on US 8 from River Avenue in Ladysmith east to the Price County line. Construction is scheduled to start Monday, May 6.

The existing pavement is showing signs of deterioration. To address this and other issues, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation project will do the following from:

• River Avenue in Ladysmith to Prentice Street in Glen Flora:
• Mill and overlay approximately 11 miles of US 8 with asphalt.
• Replace or remove deteriorated guardrail.
• Replace deteriorated sections of curb and gutter.
• Reconstruct curb ramps to meet Americans With Disabilities Act standards, where feasible.
• Construct a short segment of sidewalk in the village of Tony between Linden and Walnut streets to provide continuity.
• Replace two culverts in Glen Flora.
• Install new pavement markings.
• Place centerline rumble strips in rural areas.
• Pave the shoulders, including an additional two feet, and add shoulder rumble strips to minimize run-off-the-road crashes.
• Prentice Street to the Price County line:
• Remove 2.25 inches of asphalt from US 8 and replace it with 3.25 inches of new asphalt from Prentice Street to German Street in the village of Hawkins and from Washington Street in Hawkins to the east Rusk County line.
• Remove the full depth of asphalt pavement and up to 2 inches of the underlying concrete pavement from German to Washington streets in Hawkins, clean and patch that segment, replace the curb and gutter and place a minimum of 3.25 inches of new asphalt to match the new concrete gutter.
• Replace curb ramps in Hawkins with Americans With Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramps at the crosswalks on US 8 at Main Street and at the west side of Washington Street.
• Remove an existing parking lane that is no longer needed for the telecommunication business east of Main Street in Hawkins.
• Replace a culvert east of Hawkins.
• Replace curb and gutter where needed at rural side road intersections throughout the project limits.
• Install centerline rumble strips in rural areas to enhance safety.
• Add shoulder gravel to match the resurfaced elevation of US 8 and at gravel side road intersections.

A public information meeting will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, May 2 at the Glen Flora Village/True Town Hall, N5744 Cedar St., Glen Flora.

During construction, US 8 will remain open to traffic, but motorists will encounter daytime single-lane closures controlled by flagging.

Construction is scheduled for completion in late August.

Visit the project's 511 website - projects.511wi.gov/nwr2/ - to keep up on changing traffic impacts during construction.​

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.