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
- Location: Bridges over 22½ Avenue north of Rice Lake
- Schedule: May 14 to early August
- Cost: $770,405
- Description: Replacing the concrete deck overlays, replacing the bridge approach slabs, repairing bridge wing walls, repairing cracks on girders and parapet as necessary and replacing guardrail as necessary.
- Traffic impacts: US 53 remains open to traffic, but the highway is reduced to a single lane in both directions.
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-November, 2025 construction; March 1 to late September, 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: US 53 South remains open to traffic, but:
- Motorists will encounter lane closures and a reduced speed limit of 60 mph in work zones.
- US 53 South reopens to two lanes of traffic, with a 70-mph speed limit between closures.
- There is a maximum width of 15 feet 3 inches on the open lane on most bridges.
- Motorists also will encounter intermittent daytime closures of the roads below the bridges during the work week.
Highway: US 63
- Location: Just west of WIS 48 West to Charrie Lane in Cumberland
- Schedule: April 28 to mid-September
- Cost: $3.68 million
- Description: Removing 3.25 inches of the existing pavement and placing 3.25 inches of new asphalt pavement; closing access to the roadway at various locations to improve safety; upgrading pedestrian curb ramps to current Americans With Disabilities Act standards; repairing or replacing curb, gutter and sidewalk; repairing sanitary sewer manholes and storm water inlets as needed; extending the two-way left-turn lane pavement markings between 3rd and 5th avenues; and replacing pavement markings and signage.
- Traffic impacts: US 63 remains open to traffic, but:
- North- and southbound traffic has 12-foot travel lanes through the entire project.
- The parking lane and shoulder are closed along the northbound lane.
- Motorists will encounter lane closures controlled by flagging for milling and paving operations.
Burnett County
Highway: East James Avenue and Johnson Street
- Location: South Robert Street to WIS 70, Grantsburg
- Schedule: July 10 to late August
- Cost: $530,913
- Description: Removing the existing pavement, paving new asphalt pavement, updating sidewalk curb ramps and placing new pavement markings.
- Traffic impacts: Motorists will be directed through the work zone by flagging.
Polk County
Highway: County B
- Location: County Z to WIS 35/48 north of Luck
- Schedule: April 25 to late August
- Cost: $2.78 million
- Description: Pulverizing and relaying the existing pavement, paving the road with asphalt and completing shoulder work.
- Traffic impacts: County B remains open to traffic, but motorists will encounter lane closures controlled by flagging during paving.
Highway: County W
- Location: McKenzie Creek Bridge east of Frederic
- Schedule: May 6 to mid-July
- Cost: $454,311
- Description: Replacing the bridge, grading, replacing the pavement on both sides of the structure and restoring the site.
- Traffic impacts: None; project complete.
Rusk County
- No current projects
Sawyer County
- No current projects
Washburn County
Highway: County K
- Location: US 63 in the city of Spooner to Sunset Lane
- Schedule: June 2 to late August
- Cost: $2.01 million
- Description: From US 63 to Division Street: Removing and replacing the existing pavement and base course, replacing curb and gutter, making spot sanitary sewer improvements, completing storm sewer repairs and placing new pavement markings and signage. From Division Street to Sunset Lane: Pulverizing the existing pavement and repaving it.
- Traffic impacts: County K is:
- Closed to through traffic from US 63 to Division Street.
- Open from Division Street to Sunset Lane, but motorists will encounter lane closures controlled by flagging during paving operations.
Last Update: Jul 18, 2025 6:25 pm CDT
