NORTHWEST WISCONSIN -- This week’s updates from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) on road construction projects for Barron, Burnett, Polk, Rusk, Sawyer, 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: Feb. 23 to October, 2026 construction; May 5, 2025, to October 2026, overall project
- 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 single-lane closures on southbound US 53 and a reduced speed limit of 60 mph in work zones.
- Motorists also will encounter single-lane closures on County I for the duration of the bridge replacement project.
Highway: US 63
- Location: Charrie Lane in Cumberland to the Washburn County line
- Schedule: April 13 to late June
- Cost: $$4.64 million
- Description of work: Removing a portion of the existing pavement and paving new asphalt, installing centerline and edge line rumble strips, cleaning or repairing culverts, reconstructing sidewalk curb ramps to Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance and placing new pavement markings
- Traffic impacts: US 63 remains open to traffic, but motorists will encounter single-lane closures controlled by flagging from:
- 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays
- 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays
Burnett County
- No current projects
Polk County
Highway: WIS 46
- Location: US 8 to WIS 35
- Schedule: April 15 to early October
- 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: Motorists will encounter moving lane closures controlled by flagging.
Rusk County
- No current projects
Sawyer County
Highway: County D
- Location: Chippewa River Bridge east of Exeland in the town of Weirgor
- Schedule: March 23 to early July
- Cost: $1.08 million
- Description of work: Replacing the bridge deck, making concrete surface repairs to the abutments, piers and girders, completing bridge joint, shoulder and guardrail work and replacing the roadway approach pavement
- Traffic impacts: County D is closed at the Chippewa River.
- Traffic is being detoured via WIS 40, WIS 70 and WIS 27.
Washburn County
- No current projects
Regionwide Pavement Marking Project
Highway: Various
- Location: Barron, Bayfield, Buffalo, Burnett, Clark, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau and Washburn
- Schedule: April 14 to early August
- Cost: $2.08 million
- Description of work: Replacing pavement markings
- Traffic impacts: Motorists will encounter daytime and nighttime lane closures depending on the location of work.
- Crews are expected to work on highway segments in St. Croix County in the coming week.
Last Update: Apr 17, 2026 4:29 pm CDT
