WisDOT Safety Improvement Project At Us 53/WIS 77 In Minong Completed

News Release

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) has changed the intersection of US 53 and WIS 77 in the Washburn County village of Minong to reduce the number of right-angle crashes at the crossing.

The recently completed safety improvement project closed the existing US 53-WIS 77 intersection and constructed a restricted crossing U-turn intersection. RCUTs, also referred to as J-turns, are a type of intersection used primarily on four-lane divided highways that reduce conflict points.

RCUT intersections differ from conventional intersections by rerouting left-turn and through vehicles from side roads, so motorists approaching the divided highway from the side road are required to turn right and then make a U-turn at a designated median opening.

For motorists in Minong, here is how to navigate the RCUT:

• Traffic on US 53 can turn onto WIS 77, using either the right- or left-turn lanes. The latter are not to be used by motorists on WIS 77, wanting to travel through the intersection or turn left onto US 53.
• Traffic on WIS 77 can only turn right, so motorists wanting to cross US 53 to continue on WIS 77 or turn left onto US 53 must:
  • Turn right onto US 53 into the left lane.
  • Make a U-turn at one of the project’s median crossovers – each located on US 53 about 900 feet north and south of WIS 77 – and head in the opposite direction on US 53, either continuing straight or turning right onto WIS 77.