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: 14½ Avenue
- Location: Barker Creek Bridge northwest of Cameron
- Schedule: Sept. 29 through late November
- Cost: $482,782
- Description: Replacing the bridge, approach pavement and signs.
- Traffic Impacts: The road is closed at the bridge.
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.
Highway: US 63
- Location: Just west of WIS 48 West to Charrie Lane in Cumberland
- Schedule: April 28 to mid-October
- 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.
- North- and southbound traffic has 12-foot travel lanes through the entire project.
Burnett County
Highway: Burnikel Road
- Location: Clam River Bridge
- Schedule: Sept. 22 to early November
- Cost: $530,913
- Description: Replacing the bridge and reconstructing 100 feet of approach roadway.
- Traffic Impacts: The road is closed at the bridge.
Highway: East James Avenue and Johnson Street
- Location: South Robert Street to WIS 70, Grantsburg
- Schedule: July 10 to mid-October
- Cost: $653,100
- Description: Removing the existing pavement, paving new asphalt pavement, updating sidewalk curb ramps and placing new pavement markings.
- Traffic Impacts: None; project complete.
Polk County
Highway: 3rd Avenue
- Location: Ash Street to Oak Street in Frederic
- Schedule: Sept. 23 to mid-November
- Cost: $584,100
- Description: Reconstructing the road, making storm sewer upgrades, completing curb, gutter and sidewalk work and replacing pavement markings and signage.
- Traffic Impacts: The road is closed to through traffic.
Rusk County
- No current projects
Sawyer County
Highway: County B
- Location: 2nd Street to West Chippewa Trail
- Schedule: Aug. 8 to early October
- Cost: $807,337
- Description: Removing a portion of the existing pavement, placing new asphalt pavement, replacing concrete curb and gutter at spot locations, improving curb ramp and installing new pavement markings.
- Traffic Impacts: None; project complete.
Highway: County CC
- Location: Bridge over the Chippewa Flowage southwest of New Post
- Schedule: Sept. 8 to early November
- Cost: $613,953
- Description: Replacing the bridge deck, making abutment repairs, replacing approach pavement, placing riprap and replacing guardrail.
- Traffic Impacts: The road is closed at the bridge.
Washburn County
Highway: County K
- Location: US 63 in the city of Spooner to Sunset Lane
- Schedule: June 2 to early September
- 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: None; project complete.
Last Update: Oct 10, 2025 2:20 pm CDT
