Northwest Region Construction Update - February 27th

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 between Cameron and New Auburn: structures over US 8, Knapp Street, County A, County AA and Carlson School Road, 2025, and structures over 20th Street, County I and the Chetek River, 2026

Schedule: May 5 to mid-November, 2025 construction; Feb. 23 to October 2026, total project completion.

Cost: $10.91 million

Description of 2026 work: Replacing the decks on the bridges over the Chetek River and 20th Street; replacing the bridge over County I; milling pavement on both sides of each structure and placing new asphalt pavement on the approaches; milling and overlaying the pavement on the southbound US 53 on- and off-ramps at the County I interchange; and replacing guardrail, pavement markings and signage

Traffic impacts: Southbound US 53 remains open to traffic, but:

• Motorists will encounter lane closures in both directions on County I.

• The ramp from County I to southbound US 53 is scheduled to be closed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 4.

  • During the ramp closure, motorists on County I will be detoured via northbound US 53 to US 8 (Exit 135, Barron and Cameron exit) and then back to southbound US 53.

Buffalo County

Highway: County P

Location: Trempealeau River Bridge east of Fountain City in the town of Buffalo

Schedule: Feb. 23 to mid-October

Cost: $1.78 million

Description of work: Building a temporary bypass and structure, replacing the bridge, reconstructing roadway approaches and removing temporary bypass and structure

Traffic impacts: Motorists might encounter lane closures and flagging at the site during the mobilizing of equipment and materials.

Trempealeau County

Highway: Smikrud Road

Location: Grant Creek Bridge south of Ettrick in the town of Gale

Schedule: Feb. 19 to late May

Cost: $580,841

Description of work: Building a temporary bypass and structure, replacing the bridge, reconstructing roadway approaches and removing the temporary bypass and structure

Traffic impacts: Motorists are using a temporary bypass to get around the construction site.

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.