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: May 5 to mid-November, 2025 construction; Feb. 23 to October 2026, total project completion.
- 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.
Burnett County
- No current projects
Polk County
- No current projects
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
Last Update: Mar 27, 2026 3:37 pm CDT
