Full Notification

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) provides a weekly update on road construction in North Central Wisconsin, which includes: Adams, Green Lake, Florence, Forest, Iron, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Marquette, Menominee, Oneida, Portage, Price, Shawano, Vilas, Waupaca, Waushara, and Wood counties.

Construction-related traffic impacts are subject to change and are dependent on favorable weather conditions and construction status.

Adams County

Highway: WIS 13
Location: Gillette Drive to Adams County E (Wisconsin Dells to Adams)
Schedule: April 22 to June 15, 2013
Cost: $2.9 million
Description: Crews will resurface 15.5 miles of the highway. Improvements also include the replacement of culvert pipes, new beam guard, permanent signing and pavement marking.
Traffic impacts: During construction, motorists can expect to encounter daytime single lane closures and flagging operations.

Langlade County

Highway: US 45
Location: South Langlade County line to WIS 47
Schedule: May 22 to July 2013
Cost: $542,000
Description: Crews will resurface the highway.
Traffic impacts: The highway will remain open to traffic during construction. Motorists can expect to encounter lane closures and flagging operations.

Lincoln County

Highway: US 51 (*updated*)
Location: intersection with Lincoln County C/North Star Road, town of Merrill
Schedule: May 13 to late September 2013
Cost: $1.8 million
Description: Crews will construct an overpass of US 51 at this location, removing at-grade access to the freeway.
Traffic impacts: During construction, motorists on US 51 can expect to encounter single lane closures. Some nighttime closures of the freeway will be required to set girders for the new structure. When the freeway is closed, motorists will be detoured via County K. The access to US 51 from Lincoln County C has been permanently removed. Railroad crossing repairs on North Star Road are under way. Crews currently plan to permanently remove access from North Star Road to US 51 on Wednesday, May 29.

Marathon County

Highway: WIS 153
Location: between Eastview Drive and Andrys Lane, near the Central Wisconsin airport
Schedule: May 13 to mid-June 2013
Cost: $1.6 million
Description: Crews will mill the existing pavement and replace it with new asphalt. Other improvements include improving storm water drainage by grading ditches, installing new culverts, and installing new curb and gutter at the intersection of WIS 153/County X.
Traffic impacts: The highway will be open to one lane in each direction during construction, but motorists can expect to encounter lane closures and daytime flagging operations. Motorists are reminded to drive with caution as they approach the work zone and should be prepared to stop. To avoid possible delays during peak travel times, motorists should allow more time for travel or use alternate routes.

Highway: US 51 (*updated*)
Location: Marathon County U and K/Business 51 interchange, Wausau
Schedule: April 1, 2013 to late November 2014
Cost: $28 million
Description: Crews will reconstruct the interchange.
Traffic impacts:
• Cassidy Drive (at County K) is permanently closed. Crews are constructing a cul-de-sac. Access to Cassidy Drive from Merrill Avenue remains.
• Overlook Drive (County U to Merrill Avenue), County U (east of US 51 to Business 51), and Merrill Avenue (at Overlook Drive) are closed to through traffic. Access to businesses and residences will be maintained.
• Motorists on northbound and southbound US 51 can expect to encounter single lane closures. When lanes are closed on the freeway the speed limit will be reduced to 55 mph. The freeway will be open to two lanes in each direction during peak traffic hours and on weekends.
• County U is closed at US 51 and will remain closed for approximately six months. Traffic is detoured via Westwood Drive and Bridge Street.
• Two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction on US 51 during peak travel hours.
• Periodic 5 to 20 minute closures of US 51 will be required for blasting operations and beam placement.
• Motorists can expect periodic, temporary closures of interchange ramps.

Highway: I-39/US 51 (*updated*)
Location: Stevens Point to Mosinee
Schedule: March 18 to mid-August 2013
Cost: $3.1 million
Description: Crews will improve three bridges between Marathon County C and Locker Road: County C, the WIS 34 interchange, and Locker Road.
Traffic impacts: During construction, motorists on I-39 can expect to encounter single lane closures and speed reductions. When lanes are closed the speed limit is reduced to 55 mph in the work zone.
• WIS 34 at the interchange with I-39 is reduced to one northbound lane; no southbound traffic over the bridge until late June/early July.
• Motorists on northbound I-39, who want to go south on WIS 34 will be detoured via the WIS 153 interchange (Exit 179, Mosinee)
• Motorists on Balsam Road, who want to travel south on WIS 34 or south on I-39, will be detoured via the WIS 153 interchange (Exit 179, Mosinee)
• I-39 is expected to be open to two lanes in each direction from noon on Friday, May 24 until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28.

Highway: I-39/US 51 southbound (*updated*)
Location: Between Business 51 and Foxglove Road
Schedule: September 10, 2012 to May 2014
Cost: $12.2 million
Description: Crews will reconstruct the southbound I-39/US 51 lanes just south of the Business 51 interchange to north of Foxglove Road. The I-39/US 51 structure over Business 51 will be replaced and widened. The structure over the Wisconsin River will be re-decked and widened.
Traffic impacts: I-39/US 51 northbound and southbound is open to two lanes of traffic with a reduced speed limit of 55 mph through the work zone.
• Crews are currently planning a nighttime closure of the northbound lanes on Thursday, May 23 from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. Friday, May 24. During the closure I-39 northbound traffic will be detoured via WIS 29 and Business 51.
• The on-ramp to northbound I-39/US 51 from Business 51 (Exit 185) in Rothschild is closed. The ramp will remain closed until late August 2013. Traffic is detoured via Business 51 and WIS 29. Motorists are advised to plan ahead and allow more travel time to avoid delays.
• Business 51 is open to a single lane of traffic in each direction.

Highway: WIS 29
Location: Between WIS 107 and County O
Schedule: August 13, 2012 to mid-November 2013
Cost: $23.5 million
Description: Improvements include: installation of a storm sewer system to collect rainwater and snowmelt; conversion of the two-way, center turn lane into a safety barrier median; removal of all existing at grade intersections besides 144th Avenue which will have right-in and right-out access provided by westbound WIS 29; Maratech Drive will be extended to 144th Avenue; and County O will be realigned to WIS 29 and a new WIS 29/County O interchange will be constructed.
Traffic impacts:
• Blasting operations are under way on County O, north of WIS 29.
• County O (from WIS 29 to Highland Avenue) is closed. The closure is necessary to continue construction of the new WIS 29/County O interchange and the new alignment of County O, north of WIS 29.
• All side road access to WIS 29 (between WIS 107 and County O), except at 144th Avenue, have been permanently closed. 144th Avenue will remain open to right-in/right-out traffic along westbound WIS 29.
• WIS 29 is reduced to one lane in each direction.
• Motorists are reminded to drive with caution in the work zone and should be prepared to encounter slow moving vehicles.

Oneida County

Highway: US 51 (*updated*)
Location: Front Street to Old Hwy 70, Minocqua
Schedule: March 28 to late November 2013
Cost: $4.6 million
Description: Crews will reconstruct the roadway; enhance pedestrian and bicycle accommodations via a wider outside travel lane for on-street bike users as well as a wider sidewalk; install a HAWK (High-Intensity Activated crossWalK) crosswalk just south of Rogers Drive; install new street lighting; replace storm, sanitary and water lines.
Traffic impacts: US 51 is reduced to one lane in each direction between Front Street and Old Hwy 70. With the increase in traffic during the Memorial Day weekend, delays and traffic backups can be expected. Motorists are reminded to drive with caution; be prepared for surprise slow-downs and speed-ups; and avoid peak travel hours - between noon on Friday and 8 p.m. Monday.

Waupaca County

Highway: WIS 49 and WIS 161
Location: Waupaca County J to east intersection with WIS 49, and WIS 161 to Anderson Road, Iola
Schedule: May 6 to June 5, 2013
Cost: $611,500
Description: Crews will resurface the roadway with new asphalt.
Traffic impacts: During construction WIS 49 and WIS 161 will remain open to traffic with temporary daytime lane closures and flagging operations. Motorists can expect some delays. During the flagging operations for milling and paving, parking areas will be closed. One side of parking throughout the village will remain open at all times. No work will be allowed during the Iola Car Show or the Vintage Military show.

Wood County

Highway: WIS 73/80 (*updated*)
Location: Yellow River bridge (Pittsville); Rocky Creek (Pittsville); and two Beaver Creek bridges (south of Marshfield)
Schedule: June 3 to late November 2013
Cost: $3.2million
Description: Crews are replacing four bridges.
Traffic impacts: On June 10, WIS 73/80 traffic will be detoured via Wood County A, County N and WIS 80 until late August. Work on the Rocky Creek bridge will begin July 8. The Beaver Creek bridge work will begin in September.

Timeline information on this project:
Bridge improvements scheduled for WIS 73, WIS 80 in Wood County
WIS 73/80 detour begins June 10

Improvements to four bridges located on WIS 73 and WIS 80 in Wood County, are currently scheduled to begin June 3, 2013. The new, wider bridges will meet current design and safety standards.
Lunda Construction Company is the prime contractor for the $3.2 million project. Bridge improvements include:
• June 3 – Begin replacement of the existing Yellow River truss bridge (Pittsville) with a two-span concrete girder bridge
• June 10 - WIS 73/80 traffic will be detoured via Wood County A, County N and WIS 80 until late August.
• July 8 – Begin replacement of the existing Rocky Creek (Pittsville) concrete box culvert with a one-span concrete slab bridge.
• August 29 - Yellow River and Rocky Creek bridge improvements are scheduled for completion.
• September – Begin replacement of the existing two Beaver Creek steel girder bridges, located south of Marshfield on WIS 80, with two new, two-span concrete girder bridges. During construction, through traffic will be detoured via Wood County A and US 10. Work on these bridges cannot begin until the Yellow River bridge and Rocky Creek box culvert work is completed.
• Late November - Beaver Creek bridges scheduled for completion.

The schedule is subject to change based on weather conditions and construction status.

One hundred percent of the project will be paid for with state transportation funds.


Highway: WIS 73
Location: WIS 13/73 intersection, town of Saratoga
Schedule: April 15 to November 1, 2013
Cost: $2.9 million
Description: Crews will realign WIS 73 from Seven Mile Creek to WIS 13, continuing west on WIS 73, and ending just east of Carousel Court; shifting the roadway onto existing Mill Avenue. Improvements include storm sewer installation, intersection improvements, added turn lanes, median islands, lighting and traffic signals. The south intersection of WIS 13 and WIS 73 will be removed. Existing WIS 73 (new Branding Iron Court), east of WIS 13 will be resurfaced.
Traffic impacts: WIS 73 and WIS 13 is reduced to one lane of traffic in each direction. Mill Avenue, between WIS 13 and 52nd Street, is closed to through traffic until late September. Access for local traffic to businesses and residences will be maintained.


Motorists are reminded to drive with caution in the work zone and should be prepared to encounter slow moving trucks Motorists should slow down, use caution and stay alert when driving through construction zones. To avoid delays, consider taking an alternative route and avoid peak travel periods.

For more information regarding traffic impacts in the North Central Region:

• Call 5-1-1 or visit www.511wi.gov
• Follow us on Twitter: @511WI_NoCentral
Alerts and updates provided via these sites are not intended for use while driving. When driving, your focus should always be on driving.