Northwest Region Construction Update - December 5th

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) provides weekly updates on road construction projects in the following counties in northwest Wisconsin: Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Rusk, St. Croix, Sawyer, Taylor, Trempealeau and Washburn counties.

Barron County

Highway: US 53 South

Location: Bridges over US 8, 20th Street, Knapp Street, County I, Chetek River, County A, County AA and Carlson School Road between Cameron and New Auburn

Schedule: May 5 to mid-December, 2025 construction; March 1 to late September 2026, total project completion.

Cost: $10.91 million

Description of 2025 work: Replacing the decks on the bridges over County AA and County A; overlaying the decks with concrete on structures over Carlson School Road, Knapp Street and US 8; making miscellaneous repairs to bridges; completing prep work for 2026 construction on the bridges over the Chetek River, County I and 20th Street; and replacing guardrail at the structures.

Traffic Impacts: Construction on southbound US 53 is complete for 2025, but:

• Motorists will encounter intermittent single-lane closures on County A and County AA and continuous single-lane closures on County I from Dec. 8-19 as crews complete temporary bridge pier work necessary for 2026’s replacement of the bridge carrying southbound US 53 over County I.

• This work originally was planned for Dec. 1-12 but was delayed because of frigid temperatures.

Chippewa and Eau Claire Counties

Highway: US 53

Location: Golf Road in Eau Claire to 40th Avenue in Lake Hallie

Schedule for 2025: June 2 to early December. Bridge approach work at Otter Creek near US 12 (Clairemont Avenue) has been pushed to early 2026.

Cost: $10 million

Description: Making repairs to or removing and replacing segments of concrete pavement; overlaying southbound US 53 with asphalt from WIS 312 (North Crossing) in Eau Claire to County OO in Lake Hallie; completing work at various structures; replacing guardrail; and placing new pavement markings.

Traffic Impacts: Motorists are expected to encounter shoulder and possibly lane closures to facilitate remaining work.

Clark County

Highway: WIS 29

Location: Koser Avenue west of Thorp to County D in Owen

Schedule: May 1 to early December

Cost: $23.74 million

Description: Making repairs to the concrete pavement; placing 3.75 inches of new asphalt pavement over WIS 29; removing 1.25 inches of the existing pavement on the ramps at the WIS 29 interchanges at WIS 73 North/County M and WIS 73 South/County T and placing 2.25 inches of new asphalt; replacing the expansion joints on the east- and westbound WIS 29 bridges over the Black River west of Withee; replacing all wing walls on a culvert carrying the Popple River under WIS 29 west of County D in Owen; replacing the northwest wing wall on a culvert between Thorp and Withee; cleaning culverts and ditches; and replacing guardrail and pavement markings.

Traffic Impacts: Motorists are expected to encounter lane closures to facilitate remaining work.

Douglas County

Highway: US 2

Location: Bong Bridge connecting Superior and Duluth, MN

Schedule: Aug. 6 to January 2026

Cost: $6.38 million

Description: Painting spot locations of the existing steel arch structure of the center span; making concrete surface repairs at spot locations of the two piers that support the center steel arch structure; removing and replacing three rubber strip seals of the center tied arch; replacing street lighting on the Minnesota half of the structure, including on the Minnesota ramps; replacing street lighting on the Wisconsin approach; applying a concrete sealer to the entire deck, including the Minnesota ramps; and placing new pavement markings on the entire bridge, Minnesota ramps and Wisconsin approach.

Traffic Impacts: None, but motorists will encounter traffic impacts as Wisconsin and Minnesota streetlight poles are installed.

• On the Wisconsin side: The installation of the lighting could start Wednesday, Dec. 10 and be wrapped up by Friday, Dec. 19.

• On the Minnesota side: The installation currently is anticipated to start Monday, Jan. 12 and wrap up by Friday, Jan. 23.

Taylor County

Highway: Grahl Drive

Location: East branch of Little Black River Bridge northeast of Medford

Schedule: Sept. 22 to early December

Cost: $430,239

Description: Replacing the bridge and reconstructing 228.5 feet of approach pavement.

Traffic Impacts: The road is closed at the bridge.

Trempealeau County

Highway: US 10

Location: Nelson Road to I-94 westbound ramps in Osseo

Schedule: April 14 to early December

Cost: $5.78 million

Description: Removing the pavement from east of the Buffalo River State Park Trail to just west of Rose Lane and placing 8.5 inches of concrete pavement along with six inches of underlying base aggregate; repairing or replacing existing concrete pavement near I-94 at spot locations; making repairs to the US 10 bridge over I-94; making concrete surface repairs on the bridge over the north fork of the Buffalo River and overlaying the deck with concrete; replacing storm sewer, sanitary sewer and water main; and replacing sidewalk, curb ramps, curb and gutter and pavement markings.

Traffic Impacts: None; project complete.

For more information regarding traffic impacts, transportation news and improvement project updates in Wisconsin’s Northwest Region:

• Follow us on X: @WisDOTnorthwest

• Visit the region’s 511 website: projects.511wi.gov/region/northwest/

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.