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Northwest Region Construction Update - November 13
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.
Ashland County
Highway: County GG
Location: County M to Spider Creek
Schedule: Oct. 19 to mid-November
Cost: $2.1 million
Description of work: Milling off a portion of the existing pavement and placing new pavement, widening paved shoulders to 3 feet, installing rumble strips and placing new pavement markings
Traffic impacts: Motorists might encounter single-lane closures until finishing work is completed early next week.
Ashland and Sawyer counties
Highway: WIS 13 and WIS 77
Location: WIS 13, Price County line to Morse Road between Mellen and Glidden, and WIS 77, Teal River Bridge northeast of Hayward
Schedule: WIS 13, April 27 to early November; WIS 77, July 27 to early November
Cost: $5.19 million
Description of work: WIS 13: Replacing, resetting, extending or abandoning more than 50 existing culvert pipes and constructing a new box culvert at Becky Creek; making concrete surface repairs at the bridge over Dryden Creek northwest of Glidden; patching the deck on the bridge over the Chippewa River southeast of Glidden; overlaying the deck with concrete on the bridge over Butternut Creek south of Butternut; and replacing guardrail at the structures and one other location in the project limits; WIS 77: Milling and overlaying the existing bridge deck, overlaying concrete pavement approach slabs, milling and overlaying roadway approaches, making concrete surface repairs on parapets, grouting voids under abutments, supplementing riprap at abutments, adjusting guardrail and installing new pavement markings
Traffic impacts: WIS 13 and WIS 77 remain open to traffic, but motorists might encounter single-lane closures controlled by flagging or temporary traffic signals as finishing work is completed.
Barron County
Highway: County D
Location: Lake Chetek Bridge in Chetek
Schedule: Aug. 3 through late November
Cost: $2.39 million
Description of work: Placing a 1.5-inch concrete overlay over the bridge deck; repairing the concrete sidewalk, bridge piers and parapet; making joint repairs; cleaning drainage grates; painting bridge girders; milling 2 inches of the existing asphalt pavement on either side of the structure and paving 2 inches of hot-mix asphalt over the roadway; replacing curb, gutter and sidewalk; and restoring the landscape around the construction site
Traffic impacts: County D remains open to a single lane of traffic at the bridge controlled by temporary traffic signals.
Highway: US 63
Location: US 8 East in Turtle Lake to WIS 48 West in Cumberland
Schedule: July 20 to mid-November
Cost: $8.66 million
Description of work: Milling 2.25 inches of asphalt from the roadway surface and paving 3.25 inches of hot-mix asphalt; cleaning, lining or replacing culverts; replacing guardrail; replacing curb and gutter at various locations; installing new pavement markings; and completing the following improvements to increase safety: Installing shoulder rumble strips, placing a high-friction surface treatment on two curves and widening paved shoulders from 3 feet to 5 feet
Traffic impacts: US 63 is open to traffic, but motorists might encounter single-lane closures through the end of the day on Friday, Nov. 13.
All traffic control is expected to be pulled from the work zone by early next week, shutting the project down for winter. Remaining work will be completed in spring 2027.
Bayfield County
Highway: WIS 13
Location: Lake Superior Wayside between Iron River and Port Wing about 0.48 mile west of Airport Road
Schedule: July 13 to late November
Cost: $3.98 million
Description of work: On the shoreline from the west property line to Jardine Creek: Armoring the toe of the slope using a 6-inch-thick layer of bedding stone, a 3-foot-thick layer of underlying stone and a 6-foot-thick layer of armor stone; excavating a 4:1 slope from the newly constructed armored to the top of the existing slope; and stabilizing the excavated slope with turf reinforcement mat and garden with topsoil and seed. At the wayside: Milling 2 inches of existing asphalt and paving 2 inches of new asphalt in the parking lot and WIS 13 entrance; upgrading the walking path to meet Americans With Disabilities Act standards by grading base aggregate and overlaying with 2 inches of new asphalt; replacing the culvert and apron end walls below the walking path to the lake and at the WIS 13 entrance to the wayside; replacing the timber guard posts bordering the parking area; and repairing the crack in the concrete slab under the pavilion
Traffic impacts: WIS 13 remains open to traffic, but the wayside is closed for the duration of work.
Highway: US 63
Location: Long Lake branch in Drummond
Schedule: July 13 to early December, 2026 construction; project will shut down for winter, with work resuming in spring 2027
Cost: $4.59 million
Description of work in 2026: Drawing down Mill Pond, realigning the Long Lake branch and building a bypass to carry a single lane of traffic during 2027 construction
Traffic impacts: US 63 is open to a single lane of traffic controlled by temporary traffic signals between Delta Drummond and Drummond Lake roads.
Buffalo County
Highway: County B
Location: WIS 37 to WIS 88
Schedule: Aug. 17 to mid-November
Cost: $1.66 million
Description of work: Pulverizing the existing pavement, relaying it on the roadway, compacting it and placing new asphalt over the road; replacing or extending culverts; adding guardrail to two bridges; and placing new pavement markings
Traffic impacts: County B is closed from WIS 37 to WIS 88.
The road is expected to open to traffic by the end of the day Friday, Nov. 13.
Burnett County
Highway: WIS 35
Location: Lanquist Street in Siren to WIS 70 East
Schedule: May 4 to mid-October
Cost: $8.55 million
Description of work: Replacing pavement with new concrete from Lanquist Street to Southshore Drive, replacing storm sewer and expanding its capacity from Lanquist to Works Progress Street, resurfacing the roadway from Southshore Drive to WIS 70 East, reviewing and revising access points, improving turning movements in all quadrants at the WIS 35 and WIS 70/County B intersection in the city of Siren, replacing traffic signals, replacing curb ramps and removing extra lanes from Park Street to Northshore Drive to reduce flooding potential
Traffic impacts: None; motorists will encounter center-turn lane closures as finishing work is completed.
Clark County
Highway: Catlin Avenue
Location: South Branch O’Neill Creek Bridge east of Granton
Schedule: Sept. 14 to late October
Cost: $499,310
Description of work: Replacing the bridge and reconstructing the roadway on both sides of the structure
Traffic Impacts: The road is closed from US 10 to Fremont Road.
The road and bridge are expected to reopen to traffic the morning of Friday, Nov. 13.
Highway: Center Road
Location: North Fork Popple River Bridge northwest of Curtiss
Schedule: Sept. 14 to mid-November
Cost: $566,250
Description of work: Replacing the bridge and reconstructing roadway
Traffic Impacts: The road is closed at the structure.
Highway: Pine Road
Location: South Fork Eau Claire River Bridge east of Thorp
Schedule: Oct. 5 to mid-November
Cost: $432,951
Description of work: Replacing the bridge and reconstructing the roadway approaching the bridge
Traffic Impacts: The road is closed at the structure.
Highway: Riplinger Road
Location: Nelson Creek Bridge northeast of Greenwood
Schedule: Oct. 12 to early December
Cost: $411,374
Description of work: Replacing the bridge
Traffic Impacts: Motorists are using a temporary bypass to get around the construction site.
Highway: Worden Road
Schedule: Sept. 8 to mid-November
Cost: $817,652
Description of work: Replacing the bridge and completing approach work
Traffic Impacts: The road is closed at the structure.
Highway: WIS 13
Location: Porky Creek culverts between Abbotsford and Dorchester
Schedule: Aug. 5 to late October
Cost: $1.56 million
Description of work: Replacing sets of culvert structures, grading each site and placing new pavement over replacement sites
Traffic Impacts: None; project complete.
Douglas County
Highway: South Mail Road
Location: St. Croix River Bridge west of Gordon
Schedule: Sept. 21 to late November, 2026 construction; work will resume in spring 2027
Cost: $969,042
Description of work: Replacing the bridge and reconstructing approach pavement
Traffic Impacts: South Mail Road is closed between Hill Road and Crotte Brook Road.
Highway: Winter Street and Susquehanna Avenue
Location: Winter Street, US 53 to Susquehanna Avenue, and Susquehanna Avenue, Winter Street to US 2 (Belknap Street), all in the city of Superior
Schedule: Sept. 15 to mid-November
Cost: This project is part of the $1.8-billion Blatnik Bridge replacement project, a joint Wisconsin and Minnesota Departments of Transportation project that began in September 2026 and is scheduled for completion in mid-2032.
Description of work: Removing a portion of existing pavement on Winter Street and Susquehanna Avenue and placing a new layer of asphalt over the roadways; adding a left-turn lane for northbound traffic on Susquehanna Avenue at the on-ramp to westbound US 2; adding pavement markings to delineate additional turn lanes, as room allows, on the corridor; adding temporary traffic signals on Winter Street at Grand Avenue; adding stop signs on Winter Street at Catlin Avenue and adjusting other stop signs at intersections along Winter Street; making pavement marking modifications along Belknap Street; and removing left-turn lanes along Belknap at Banks and Ogden avenues
Traffic Impacts: Winter Street remains open to traffic, but motorists will encounter:
Single-lane closures for the length of the project during working hours
Winter Street will be closed Monday through Wednesday, Nov. 16-18 for railroad track replacement between Birch and Elm Avenues.
Belknap Street will be closed Wednesday through Friday, Nov. 18-20 for railroad work between 5th Street East and 7th Street East.
Pedestrian traffic also is being detoured between Hammond and Catlin avenues.
Highway: WIS 13
Location: Bridge over US 2/53 southeast of Superior
Schedule: June 8 to late November
Cost: $1.43 million
Description of work: Replacing bridge joints, making surface repairs to abutments, cleaning and painting bridge girders and bearings, replacing concrete approach slabs at each end of bridge, replacing asphalt roadway approaches for about 100 feet and replacing the guardrail bridge connections
Traffic Impacts: WIS 13 and US 2/53 remain open to traffic, but motorists will encounter:
Single-lane closures on WIS 13 controlled by temporary traffic signals
Single-lane closures on US 2/53
Highway: WIS 27
Location: Sandy Run Creek south of US 2
Schedule: Aug. 3 to late November
Cost: $1.66 million
Description of work: Removing the existing culvert, replacing it with a single-span concrete girder bridge, replacing approach pavement and guardrail and placing new pavement markings
Traffic Impacts: WIS 27 is closed from the project’s northern terminus to about four-tenths of a mile south of US 2.
Traffic will be detoured via Bayfield County N, County A and US 2.
Highway: WIS 105
Location: Unnamed tributary of the Pokegama River in Superior
Schedule: June 15 to mid-November
Cost: $3.06 million
Description of work: Removing the existing culvert, building a temporary bypass to carry a single lane of traffic during construction, constructing a bridge to replace the culvert, replacing pavement approaching the new structure, installing guardrail, removing the temporary bypass and repairing slopes disturbed by construction
Traffic Impacts: WIS 105 is open to a single lane of traffic on the bridge controlled by temporary traffic signals.
Truck traffic heading west is being detoured north to US 2 and MN 23 at 61st Street and Tower Avenue.
Truck traffic heading east is being detoured north to MN 23 and US 2 at MN 23 and East McCuen Street in Duluth, Minn.
Dunn County
Highway: WIS 170
Location: Red Cedar River Bridge in Colfax
Schedule: Aug. 17 to early December
Cost: $1.88 million
Description of work: Replacing the bridge deck, one of the existing steel beams and concrete bridge approaches
Traffic Impacts: WIS 170 is reduced to a single lane of traffic controlled by temporary traffic signals.
Highway: US 12 and WIS 40
Location: US 12, Princeton Drive in Elk Mound to just north of WIS 29; and WIS 40, US 12 to County M in the village of Colfax
Schedule: March 30 to mid-November
Cost: $8.99 million
Description of work: Milling 2.25 inches of existing asphalt and paving 3.25 inches of hot-mix asphalt in rural areas; milling 3.25 inches of existing asphalt and paving 3.25 inches of hot-mix asphalt in urban areas; replacing joints on the Eighteen Mile Creek Bridge in village of Colfax; placing centerline rumble strips in rural areas; replacing cross culverts, guardrail and sidewalk curb ramps; and replacing the railroad crossing in the village of Colfax
Traffic Impacts: US 12 and WIS 40 are open to traffic, and work for 2026 is expected to wrap up Friday, Nov. 13.
Eau Claire County
Highway: County Line Road
Location: 2,500 feet west of Jeffers Road to Jeffers Road
Schedule: July 20 to late October
Cost: $2.62 million
Description of work: Widening existing shoulders; adding curb and gutter; adding sidewalk and a shared-use trail; installing storm sewer, sanitary sewer lines and water main; constructing a roundabout at the intersection of County Line and Jeffers roads; installing lighting at the roundabout; and paving the roadway with asphalt
Traffic Impacts: County Line Road is open, but motorists will encounter lane closures during paving work Friday, Nov. 13.
Highway: I-94
Location: US 53 interchange to Mallard Road southwest of Eau Claire
Schedule: March 23 to late November, 2026 construction; and March 4, 2024, to spring 2027, overall project
Cost: $69.9 million
Description of 2026 work: Replacing the pavement on eastbound I-94 from Otter Creek to Mallard Road, the eastbound bridges over County J and County D and the box culvert carrying Kluckman Valley Creek under eastbound I-94 near County D; completing shoulders, removing temporary lanes and structures and restoring the interstate’s median
Traffic Impacts: I-94 is open to traffic, but motorists will encounter:
Single-lane closures in both directions during off-peak travel times with a reduced speed limit of 60 mph
Lane closures on north- and southbound US 53 in the work zone for pavement markings
Jackson County
Highway: Nichols Road
Location: Trout Run Creek Bridge south of Black River Falls
Schedule: Aug. 11 through late November
Cost: $1.26 million
Description of work: Replacing the bridge and pavement on both sides of the structure
Traffic Impacts: None; project complete.
Pepin County
Highway: US 10
Location: WIS 25 North intersection west of Durand
Schedule: July 7 to mid-November
Cost: $2.62 million
Description of work: Constructing a single-lane roundabout at the intersection, installing curb and gutter, replacing culverts and storm sewer and installing lighting
Traffic Impacts: US 10 and WIS 25 North are open to traffic, and traffic has been switched into the roundabout. Motorists will encounter:
Shoulder closures
Flagging operations as crews work on each leg of the roundabout
Polk County
Highway: County H
Location: Apple River Bridge east of Balsam Lake
Schedule: Sept. 1 to early November
Cost: $790,773
Description of work: Replacing the bridge and reconstructing 300 feet of approach roadway and the intersection of County H and Apple River Lane
Traffic impacts: County H is closed at the bridge.
Traffic is being detoured via County G, County E and US 8.
Highway: WIS 46
Location: US 8 to WIS 35 in Milltown
Schedule: April 15 to early November
Cost: $8.49 million
Description of work: Recycling 4 inches of pavement in place on the rural portion of the project; placing 2.75 inches of new asphalt and installing centerline rumble strips; milling 3.25 inches of pavement in the village of Balsam Lake and placing 3.35 inches of new asphalt; cleaning, extending, lining or replacing culverts; replacing or adjusting existing guardrail; and replacing curb ramps in the village of Balsam Lake
Traffic impacts: WIS 46 is open to traffic. Traffic control is expected to be picked up next week, completing the project.
Highway: WIS 87
Location: US 8 to 240 feet north of Minnesota Street in St. Croix Falls
Schedule: April 24 to mid-November
Cost: $1.7 million
Description of work: Removing 3.25 inches of existing pavement and paving 3.25 inches of hot-mix asphalt, replacing curb ramps, removing roadway pavers, adjusting manhole covers, inlet covers and water valves, installing storm sewer and placing new pavement markings
Traffic impacts: WIS 87 is open to traffic, but motorists will encounter single-lane closures controlled by flagging operations.
Highway: WIS 243
Location: St. Croix River Bridge between WIS 35 in Osceola and MN 95 in Franconia Township, MN
Schedule: Aug. 10, 2026, to fall 2028
Cost: $23.2 million; this is a joint project of the Wisconsin and Minnesota Departments of Transportation.
Description of work: Replacing the bridge on its existing alignment and building a new pedestrian and bicycle path
Traffic impacts: WIS 243 and the bridge remain open to traffic, but:
Full bridge closure is tentatively set for 5 a.m. Monday, Nov. 16, with that closure anticipated to be in place for up to a year.
During bridge closure, traffic will be detoured via WIS 35, US 8 and MN 95.
Motorists also can use the alternative route of WIS 35, WIS 35/64, WIS 64, MN 36 and MN 95.
Rusk County
Highway: US 8
Location: Little Soft Maple Creek northeast of Weyerhaeuser
Schedule: June 23 to early November
Cost: $1.92 million
Description of work: Constructing a temporary bypass on the north side of US 8 to carry traffic during construction, removing the existing box culvert, constructing a single-span bridge half at a time to replace it, replacing roadway approach pavement on both sides of the structure and installing guardrail
Traffic impacts: None; project complete.
St. Croix County
Highway: I-94
Location: St. Croix River bridges between Hudson and Lakeland, Minn.
Schedule: April 6 to mid-November, 2026 construction; Sept. 29, 2025, to mid-November 2026, overall project
Cost: $9.85 million
Description of 2026 work: Construction on both bridges includes: Replacing the modular and expansion joints, placing a new polymer overlay on the bridge decks, making concrete surface repairs, cleaning of bridge bearings and replacing pavement markings. Construction on the westbound bridge also includes making repairs on the east and west abutment back walls, completing spot painting of bridge pin and hanger system. Construction on the eastbound bridge also includes repairing the east abutment back wall and replacing the sidewalk railing. Construction on the retaining wall on the Wisconsin approach: Replacing the block wall crossing under and adjacent to I-94 and parallel to the pedestrian path.
Traffic impacts: None; project complete.
Sawyer County
Highway: WIS 27
Location: West Boylan Road northeast of Stone Lake to 700 feet north of West Carol Drive southwest of Hayward
Schedule: July 27 to early November
Cost: $5.21 million
Description of work: Milling off a portion of the existing roadway and placing new pavement, placing new base aggregate on shoulders, replacing or repairing and cleaning culverts, making spot repairs to curb and gutter and completing inlet maintenance
Traffic impacts: WIS 27 is open to traffic, and traffic control is expected to be picked up Friday, Nov. 13, bringing work from 2026 to a close.
Crews will return in spring to complete pavement marking work.
Trempealeau County
Highway: Elevator Street and West Street
Location: Elevator Street from West Street to North Street and West Street from US 10 to Elevator Street, all in Osseo
Schedule: Aug. 24 to early November
Cost: $957,975
Description of work: Removing the existing pavement structure and replacing it with base course and asphaltic pavement; adding 4-foot paved shoulders, curb and gutter, a 5-foot terrace and 5-foot sidewalk; and installing new storm sewer (The city also is replacing water main and sanitary sewer.)
Traffic impacts: Elevator and West streets are closed to through traffic.
Both streets are expected to reopen to traffic early next week.
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.
