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: County O
- Location: Wisconsin Avenue intersection in Rice Lake
- Schedule: April 20 to late September
- Cost: $1.1 million
- Description of work: Realigning and extending the County O left-turn lanes, constructing right-turn lanes both north and south along Wisconsin Avenue, replacing traffic signals and adding sidewalk and a pedestrian crossing on County O
- Traffic impacts: Wisconsin Avenue and County O remain open to traffic, but:
- Temporary traffic signals are in use at the intersection.
- A single lane of traffic in both directions is open on County O with a turn lane at Wisconsin Avenue.
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 continuous single-lane closures on southbound US 53 from north of US 8 to south of 20th Street southwest of Cameron, north of Knapp Street in Chetek to south of County AA southeast of Chetek and from north of Carlson School Road, located northwest of New Auburn, to south of the structure.
- The speed limit is reduced to 55 mph.
- Motorists will encounter single-lane closures on County I through the duration of the project.
- Motorists will encounter continuous single-lane closures on southbound US 53 from north of US 8 to south of 20th Street southwest of Cameron, north of Knapp Street in Chetek to south of County AA southeast of Chetek and from north of Carlson School Road, located northwest of New Auburn, to south of the structure.
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
Highway: US 63
- Location: Beaver Dam Lake in Cumberland
- Schedule: April 24 to early September
- Cost: $2.64 million
- Description of work: Removing the existing box culvert carrying Beaver Dam Lake under US 63, building a bridge with a longer span to replace the box culvert, removing the Lake Street Bridge, dredging Beaver Dam Lake under US 63 and the Lake Street Bridge, building an ATV trail on the east side of US 63 from Arcade Avenue to Nedvidek Street, reconstructing US 63 on both sides of the new bridge, reconstructing portions of Lake Street, Nedvidek Street and Babcock Avenue to match the raised profile of US 63 and constructing curb, gutter and sidewalk
- Traffic impacts: US 63 is closed to traffic on both sides of the structure.
- Traffic is being detoured via WIS 48, US 53 and WIS 70.
- In addition, Lake Street is closed just past the boat landing.
- Access to the boat landing is being maintained.
- The Lake Street Bridge is open to emergency vehicles only through late July.
- In addition, Lake Street is closed just past the boat landing.
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: WIS 35 remains open to traffic, but motorists will encounter:
- Shoulder closures on northbound WIS 35 from Lanquist Street to Bradley Street; southbound WIS 35 from the WIS 35/70 intersection to Bacon Street; and westbound WIS 70 from 1st Avenue to the WIS 35/70 intersection
- Lane closures controlled by flagging on north- and southbound WIS 35 from Southshore Drive to the roundabout
- The closure of County B from WIS 35 to 3rd Avenue
- WIS 70 is closed for one block through Friday, June 19, with traffic detoured via Old 35 and West Main Street.
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: WIS 46 is closed from 140th Avenue to 150th Avenue.
- This closure is anticipated to be in place through mid-July.
- Traffic is being detoured via US 8 and WIS 35.
- Motorists might encounter single-lane closures controlled by flagging on other segments of the project.
Highway: US 8
- Location: WIS 35 North to WIS 46 South
- Schedule: May 11 to late August
- Cost: $7.52 million
- Description of work: Milling 2.25 inches of existing asphaltic surface and placing 3.25 inches new asphalt; reconstructing two locations of roadway where sloughing is occurring; widening the paved shoulders from 3 to 5 feet; installing centerline and shoulder rumble strips; cleaning, extending, lining or replacing existing culverts and replacing deteriorating end walls on some structures; replacing or adjusting guardrail; and completing roadside maintenance, including clearing and ditching
- Traffic impacts: US 8 remains open to traffic, but motorists will encounter:
- Single-lane closures controlled by flagging for culvert work
- A continuous eastbound lane closure controlled by temporary traffic signals for a repair area on the west end of the project
Rusk County
- No current WisDOT 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.
Washburn County
- No current WisDOT projects
Last Update: Jun 12, 2026 10:09 am CDT
