Driving News, Crime & Press Releases

July 18, 2008
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is providing a weekly update on road construction in Southeast Wisconsin, which includes the counties of Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha.

Construction-related traffic impacts exist in the following locations. Closures listed are subject to change and are weather-dependent.

Kenosha County
WIS 31 (Green Bay Road)
Location: County K (60th Street) intersection
Schedule: August 25 - November 25, 2008
Length of Project: 0.40 miles
Cost: To be determined
Type of work: Convert the existing WIS 31 mandatory right-turn-only lanes at its County K intersection to three continuous through-traffic lanes in both directions. Reconfigure the existing WIS 31 left turn lanes at this intersection and its other nearby median openings for reducing collisions. Project improvements include:

Replacing existing traffic signals with temporary and new permanent signals
Modifying existing storm sewer system
New signing/striping
Extending and reconfiguring turn lanes within the existing highway right-of-way
Traffic impacts: All intersection approaches will remain open to traffic during construction.

August - September, WIS 31 will be reduced from three lanes to two lanes while the intersection’s existing right turn lanes and outer corners are reconstructed. Truck detour routes will be posted in the project vicinity with right turns by trucks prohibited at this intersection. WIS 31 will be reduced to one lane in each direction during nighttime hours.
October - November, WIS 31 will remain reduced from three lanes to two lanes for median work. Left turn lanes must be shortened temporarily while the intersection’s existing left turn lanes and the WIS 31 median in the vicinity are reconstructed.
WIS 32
Location: 16th Place to County KR
Schedule: April 23 through late 2008
Length: 2.6 miles
Cost: 10.5 million
Type of work: Reconstruction to the existing 4-lane roadway to an urban section including new traffic signals at the County E intersection. The County A intersection will be constructed to accommodate traffic signals in the future when volumes warrant one. 16th Place to 9th Place will be reconstructed in 2007 while the section from 9th Place to just south of County KR will be reconstructed in 2008. Some work such as clearing and grubbing and storm sewer outfalls to Lake Michigan will occur throughout the entire project. These activities will have minimal impact on traffic.
Traffic impacts: In spring 2008, work will resume and will involve reconstructing WIS 32 from 9th Place to County KR. Similar staging will be used for this section as was used in 2007 for the section to the south.

Milwaukee County
  Up to date lane and ramp closures on the Milwaukee-area freeway system

WIS 100 and US 45 (Lover’s Lane)
Location: Loomis Road (WIS 36) to College Avenue
Schedule: April 28 - mid-July 2008
Length of Project: 2.713 miles
Cost: $1.6 million
Type of Work: Resurfacing. Work will involve mill and overlay of asphalt pavement sections. Concrete pavement sections will be diamond ground.
Traffic impacts:

Section 1 - Loomis Road to Drexel Road
Construction operations in this section anticipated to start the week of July 21. Open to two-way through traffic. During daylight hours, one lane will be closed to traffic. Flagging operations will be used during lane closure operations. Expect delays. Alternative routes recommended for through traffic to avoid delays.
Section 2 - Drexel Road to Rawson Avenue
A minimum of one 12-foot lane in each direction shall be opened to traffic at all times while work is taking place in closed lanes.
Section 3 - Rawson Avenue to College Avenue
Staged construction. Traffic patterns will change throughout course of project.
Two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction during peak hours. One lane of through traffic will be maintained in each direction during non-peak hours.
WIS 32
Location: WIS 32 and O’Brien Road intersection
Schedule: July 14 - July 21, 2008
Length of Project: 600 feet
Cost: $50,000
Type of Work: Pave a three to five foot wide asphalt shoulder for bicycle accommodations on both sides of WIS 32 through the intersection with O’Brien Road. Work being done with U.S.45 (Lovers Lane).
Traffic impacts: Intersection will remain open and access to residents. Shoulder area will be closed to perform work. Flagging operations might be required at time for construction operations.

WIS 181 (N. 76th Street)
  WIS 181 project
Location: Clinton Avenue to W. County Line Road
Schedule: March 10 - mid November 2008
Length of Project: 2.670 miles
Cost: $11.3 million
Type of Work: Reconstruction. N. 76th Street and a portion of the adjacent side roads, from Clinton Avenue to West County Line Road, will be reconstructed to replace a deteriorated pavement.

Existing roadway centerline will be followed. Minor improvements to vertical profile to improve ride quality and maintain drainage.
Improvements will be made to the existing storm sewer system to improve drainage.
Concrete sidewalk will be replaced and new sidewalk installed at various locations to improve pedestrian safety.
Traffic signals will be replaced at various intersections within the project limits.
Modifications to the N. 76th Street median will be made to improve both pedestrian and motorist safety.
N. 76th Street bridge structures over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks will have maintenance work done.
N. 76th Street bridge structure over WIS 100 (Brown Deer Road) will be re-decked, have maintenance work done, and have the bridge deck raised to provide proper clearance over WIS 100.
Traffic impacts:

Staged construction. Traffic patterns will change throughout course of project. WIS 181 will remain open to through traffic along the length of the project. Access to businesses will be maintained during construction. Lanes widths will narrow to 10 feet depending upon construction stage and location within the project. There will be a posted detour route for through truck traffic to avoid the construction zone. The detour route for northbound WIS 181 truck traffic will be WIS 145 - US 41/45 - WIS 100 - WIS 57 - WIS 167. The detour route for southbound WIS 181 truck traffic will be the reverse direction. Truck traffic on Brown Deer Road will not be able to access N. 76th Street from Brown Deer Road due to construction operations. Truck traffic will have to find an alternate route or follow the detour route to N. 76th Street. Four stages of construction will be used in order to maintain access and keep WIS 181 open.
Stage 2 construction began the week of April 21, 2008 and will last to the middle of July 2008. The second stage will involve reconstructing the northbound N. 76th Street lanes. During this stage, both northbound and southbound traffic will be placed in the existing southbound N. 76th Street lanes. There will be two lanes of traffic northbound and southbound from Clinton Avenue to Tower Road along N. 76th Street.  From Tower Road to Brown Deer Road, there will be two northbound lanes and one southbound lane of traffic along N. 76th Street. From Brown Deer Road to West County Line Road, there will be one lane for both northbound and southbound traffic along N. 76th Street. During this stage, there will be no access from North 76th Street to N. 76th Place. All access to N. 76th Place will have to be made from Brown Deer Road. Brown Deer Road will also have lane closures at the intersection with N. 76th Street, in order to permit work on the N. 76th Street bridge over Brown Deer Road.
Ozaukee County
WIS 32 (Franklin Street)
Location: Grand Avenue to I-43
Schedule: March 17 until late 2008
Length of Project: 1.63 miles
Cost: $6 million
Type of work: Reconstruction of WIS 32, including underground water and sewer, storm sewer, grading, base course, pavement, lighting, signing, pavement marking and sidewalks.
Traffic impacts: WIS 32 is closed. There will be stages throughout the construction year with work from the South (Grand Avenue) to the North (I-43) end of the project. The first stage (Grand Avenue to Jackson Street) is anticipated to be reopened to traffic by early June. The official detour has traffic going around the west side of the city of Port Washington on I-43. There are local detours in and around the city of Port Washington and all the stores are open.

WIS 33
Location: Newburg to Saukville
Schedule: May 23 until end of July 2008
Length of project: six miles
Cost: $1.7 million
Type of work: Preventive maintenance
Traffic impacts: Work will be done under traffic by flagging operation. Milling pavement surface will begin in Saukville on May 27.

Racine County
WIS 83
Location: East Burlington Bypass on the east and south sides of the city of Burlington
Schedule: Overall schedule for the east half of the bypass to be completed by late fall of 2008. Specific impacts: 1) WIS 83 on the south side of Burlington - closed from March 18, 2008 through late October 2008. 2) Brever and Ketterhagen Roads on the east side of Burlington - closed from October 2007 to August 2008. 3) WIS 36/83, County A, WIS 11 and WIS 142, all on the east side of the city of Burlington, with periodic lane closures throughout 2008.
Length: 5.8 miles
Cost: $50 million
Type of work: New road construction and side road reconstruction.
Traffic impacts:

From March 18, 2008 through late October of 2008 WIS 83 on the south side of Burlington is closed to traffic for reconstruction to connect the highway to the new bypass via an at-grade signalized intersection. A detour route has been posted and utilizes WIS 83, WIS 50, County P and Market Street.
From October 2007 until August 2008, both Brever Road and Ketterhagen Road will be closed to traffic for reconstruction to carry them over the new bypass via bridges. No detour routes are posted for these local road closures.
Periodic lane closures will be required on WIS 36/83, County A, WIS 11 and WIS 142 on the east side of Burlington. Lane closures will be needed to install final lift of asphalt pavement, pavement marking and signing. Lane closures would be short term and the roads will remain open to traffic during the work operations. The entire east half of the Burlington Bypass is scheduled to be open to traffic by late fall of 2008.
Walworth County
WIS 120
Location: East Troy to WIS 36
Schedule: Mid-summer - late fall 2008
Length of Project: 10 miles
Cost: $5 million
Type of Work: Road rehabilitation. The existing rural roadway will be milled and resurfaced. The construction work includes guardrail replacements, culvert replacements, landscaping and other incidental items. 
Traffic Impacts: WIS 120 and side roads will be open to traffic during construction using flagging operations for lane closures. The White River State Trail will be temporary closed for a couple hours during milling and paving operations on WIS 120.

WIS 50
Location: WIS 67 to Geneva Street 
Schedule: April 23 - to September 15, 2008
Length of Project: two miles
Cost: $5 million
Type of work: Reconstruct WIS 50 from WIS 67 to Geneva National Boulevard grading for the ultimate four lane highway but paving only two of the four lanes at this time. Mill and resurface WIS 50 from Geneva National Boulevard to Geneva Street. Harris Road will be realigned to intersect WIS 50 at a right angle. WIS 67 will be widened with turn lanes and traffic signals. 
Traffic impacts: WIS 50 will be closed and detoured from WIS 67 to Geneva National Boulevard. The detour will use US 12, I-43 and WIS 67. WIS 67 will be open to traffic and constructed in stages.

Washington County
No state construction projects currently in progress.

Waukesha County
I-94
Location: Intersection with Calhoun Road
Schedule: June 2, 2008 through July 31, 2009
Length of Project: 0.2 miles
Cost: $6 million estimated
Type of Work: Reconstruction/bridge replacement
Traffic impacts: The eastbound traffic lanes on I-94 have been reduced to 11 feet and shifted toward the median. Traffic patterns will be changing with the next stage, scheduled to take place on July 22. The next stage will utilize crossovers to move westbound  I-94 traffic onto the eastbound lanes between Moorland Road and Brookfield Road. Three lanes will be open in each direction. All lanes will be reduced to 11 feet and all shoulders will be reduced to two feet through this area. This stage will remain until November 1, 2008, when the new westbound bridge and lanes are completed.

The following closures are scheduled for this week:

Monday (July 21) from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., I-94 eastbound, single right lane will be closed for removal of barrier wall at west end shift and west end crossover. A crash cushion will be placed at the blunt end.
Monday (July 21) from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m., I-94 eastbound single left lane will be closed, and from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m., I-94 eastbound two left lanes will be closed for moving and installing temporary barrier wall. At 11 p.m., it has been requested that State Patrol assist with traffic shifting from current lane configuration onto Stage 2a eastbound lanes.
Tuesday (July 22) from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., I-94 westbound single left lane will be closed to move barrier from east crossover.  A crash cushion will be placed at the blunt end.
Tuesday (July 22) from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m., I-94 westbound single right lane will be closed, and from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. I- 94 westbound two right lanes will be closed for moving and installing temporary barrier wall. At 11 p.m., it has been requested that State Patrol assist with traffic shifting from current lane configuration onto Stage 2a eastbound lanes.
At 6 a.m. on Wednesday (July 23), all traffic will be on I-94 eastbound as planned for Stage 2a
Calhoun Road
Location: From Greenfield Avenue intersection to Bluemound Road intersection
Schedule: June 2, 2008 through July 4, 2009
Length of Project: 1.3 miles
Cost: $6 million
Type of work: Reconstruction and expansion/sidewalks/bridge replacement/retaining walls
Traffic impacts: Calhoun Road will be closed between Greenfield Avenue and Bluemound Road from June 2, 2008 until December 1, 2008. Side roads will also be restricted from access and egress to Calhoun within the construction limits. Residents and businesses along Calhoun Road, Elizabeth Drive, and Judith Lane will have access through the work zone. However, properties north of IH 94 must access from Bluemound Road and properties south of I-94 must access from Greenfield Avenue because traffic will not be allowed to pass beneath IH 94 due to bridge construction. Turn lanes from Bluemound Road and Greenfield Avenue have been closed, and left turns have been restricted. Access is being restricted to right turn and through movement entries for local residents, school, and businesses.

I-43
Location: Sunny Slope Road to the Hale Interchange
Schedule: April - mid-November 2008
Length of project: 2.37 miles
Cost: $6.7 million
Type of work: Resurfacing of the existing asphalt, base patching, concrete barrier wall and beam guard installation, and storm sewer work. Bridge deck work at 116th and 124th Streets will also be included, along milling and resurfacing of off-ramps from I-894/I-43 southbound to Forest Home Avenue and Loomis Road. Some concrete pavement and other work will be done in part of the Hales Corners Park and Ride.
Traffic Impacts:

Friday, July 18 - 8 p.m. to 10:30 a.m. Hale Interchange ramp from I-894 westbound to I - 43 southbound, two left lanes between Hale and WIS 100 off-ramp, and WIS 100 off-ramp from I-43 southbound will be closed.
Monday, July 21 - Friday July 25, daytime and nighttime closures I-43 northbound and southbound various locations throughout project.
Monday, July 21 - 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., Hale Interchange ramp from I-894 westbound to I-43 southbound, two left lanes between Hale and WIS 100 off-ramp, and WIS 100 off-ramp from I-43 southbound will be closed.
Monday, July 21 - 124th St. open to traffic / 116th Street bridge closed to through traffic.
Tuesday, July 22 - Full freeway closure I-43 southbound, 11 p.m. - 5 a.m.
Wednesday July 23 - Full freeway closure I-43 southbound, 11 p.m. - 5 a.m.
Thursday July 24 - Full freeway closure I-43 southbound, 11 p.m. - 5am.
WIS 16
Location: Concord Road to Sheldon Road
Schedule: April - November 2008
Length of Project: 1.2 miles
Cost: $8.5 million estimated
Type of Work: Reconstruction
Traffic impacts: Detour through either the Oconomowoc Bypass or local city streets, from approximately May through the end of August. Work will be staged during the rest of the project so one lane of traffic will be available in each direction.

WIS 16
Location: From I-94 to WIS 67
Schedule: July 7, 2008 through Oct. 31, 2008.
Length of Project: 13.8 miles with five different work zone areas totaling 0.55 miles
Cost: $2.1 million
Type of work:

Bridge Deck overlays, and replace barrier wall
Work Zone 1, County P (Sawyer Road)  westbound on-ramp
Work Zone 2, County C bridge over WIS 16
Work Zone 3, WIS 16 eastbound and westbound bridges over County E, and County KC bridge over WIS 16
Work Zone 4, WIS 16 eastbound and westbound bridges over Capitol Drive, Canadian Pacific Railway, and E. Wisconsin Avenue
Work Zone 5, County J southbound bridge lane closure off peak hours
Traffic impacts: WIS 16 will be limited to one lane in each direction for five different work zones. Speed limits on WIS 16 will be reduced to 55 mph within work zones 3 and 4. Work zones will be completed in different stages throughout project. Lanes will be a minimum of 11 - 12-foot widths. The alternate route will follow Capitol Drive eastbound to WIS 164 southbound to I-94.

WIS 83
Location: From I-94 to WIS 16
Schedule: July 7, 2008 through August 13, 2008.
Length of Project: 3.2 miles
Cost: $824,000
Type of work: Resurface and bridge deck overlay
Traffic impacts: Roadwork will be on WIS 83, from I-94 to north of Cardinal Lane. Traffic will be allowed on this section with flagging operations The bridge over the railroad tracks/Vettelson Road. will be closed between Cardinal Lane and Capitol Drive, from July 7 to August 8, 2008.  WIS 83 traffic will be detoured onto County KE to the east connecting with WIS 16 west  back to WIS 83.

WIS 74
Location: Waukesha Avenue / Main Street in Sussex to Elder Lane in Menomonee Falls
Schedule: May - November 2008
Length of Project: 5.2 miles
Cost: $8 million
Type of Work: Reconstruction from Waukesha Ave. / Main Street through Townline Road; resurfacing from Townline Road to Elder Lane; new traffic signals at Waukesha Avenue / Main Street, Townline Road - south, Good Hope Road and Lannon Road; roundabout at Townline Road, north.
Traffic impacts: Concrete paving began in the Village of Sussex on July 8 and will continue with completion of concrete curb and gutter, sidewalk and driveway aprons. Access may be limited. The Canadian National Railroad crossing on WIS 74 in Sussex will be closed beginning on Monday, July 21 at 7 a.m. The crossing will remain closed until Canadian National completes the new installation of railroad signals and track rail. The approximate closure will be two weeks. The posted detour route will be County V South to Silver Spring. Trains will be held each day for approximately six hours while the railroad works on each track line on WIS 74. After that time, train traffic will be very heavy and motorists may encounter longer delays at the Silver Spring crossing. Message boards will advise motorists traveling north into Sussex to use County K as an alternate route.

Concrete base patching from Good Hope Road to Menomonee Falls is complete. Spot improvements will be made to storm sewer, curb and gutter and sidewalk in the Village of Lannon. Wondra Excavating, hired by the Village of Lannon, will complete the water main work in approximately one week. Underground electrical work will begin at Lannon Road and Good Hope for the installation of the new traffic signals. The project has multiple construction operations and sub-contractors working. Please be aware of traffic conditions, as they will keep changing throughout the staging of the project.

US 18 (Bluemound Road)
  US 18 Bluemound Road project
Location: From Barker Road intersection to Moorland Road intersection
Schedule: Mid April - late October.
Length of Project: three miles
Cost: $3.3 million
Type of work: Median changes, traffic signal improvements, new signs and new pavement marking
Traffic impacts: The driving lane immediately adjacent to the median, in each direction, will be closed in 1-mile sections. There will be a lane shift to the right, the three current lanes will shift one to the right, and the bus lane will be used while the lane adjacent to the median will be closed.

US 18
Location: County JJ structures over I-94 in Waukesha County. Project limits on Moreland Road, from Kossow Road to Barker Road. Project limits on Bluemound Road, from Kossow Road to Barker Road.
Schedule: April 7 - October 25, 2008
Cost: $7.5 million
Type of work: Bridge rehabilitation. The four structures over I-94 will be redecked, widened and the girders repainted. 
Traffic Impacts: I-94 closures will be allowed during the non peak hours of 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. US 18 will be restricted to two lanes in each direction. County JJ will be restricted to one lane in each direction. The westbound I-94 off ramp to US 18 westbound will be closed for the duration of the project.

US 18
Location: Intersection of Summit and University Avenue
Schedule: July 7 - Aug. 31, 2008
Length of Project: 0.227 miles
Cost: $500,000
Type of work: Intersection improvement with turn-lanes and traffic lights.
Traffic Impact: Staged construction and minimum of two lanes of through traffic on US 18 during construction.

Moorland Road and I-43 Interchange in New Berlin
Location: Project limits on I-43 are from Sunnyslope to Calhoun. Project limits on Moorland are from Rock Ridge Road to Beloit Road.
Schedule: April 30, 2007 - June 12, 2009
Length: 1.67 miles
Cost: 21.8 million
Type of work: Bridge and road reconstruction. Existing signals will be replaced with roundabouts at the ramp terminals. A northbound on loop ramp will be constructed to handle the heavy volume from southbound Moorland to northbound I-43.
Traffic impacts: I-43 will have two lanes in each direction open during peak hours. I-43 closures are allowed from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. or 8 p.m. - 6 a.m. Moorland Road will have one lane open in each direction at all times. Ramps will have long-term closures during different stages starting late 2007 through 2008. I-43 northbound off-ramp to Moorland Road will be reopening on Saturday, November 17. This intersection will be operating as a roundabout. The on ramp from Moorland Road to northbound I-43 is closed until mid-June. Beloit Road under I-43 (from Forest Point to Small Road) was scheduled to be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, May 16 and Tuesday, May 20.

WIS 175  (Appleton Ave.)
Location: Lilly Road to the US 45 ramps
Schedule: April - October 2008
Length of Project: 1.9 miles
Cost: $4.5 million estimated
Type of Work: Reconstruction from Lilly Road to 124th Street (Waukesha/Milwaukee County line). Resurfacing from 124th Street to the US 45 ramps (Milwaukee County); traffic signals at Good Hope Road will be replaced with new signals.
Traffic impacts: Traffic will be staged during construction; truck detour set up around the project.

Motorists should slow down, use caution and stay alert when driving through construction zones. To avoid delays, consider taking an alternative route and avoid peak travel periods. Before leaving home, check the following sources for information about work zones and detours:

Call 1-800-ROAD-WIS (762-3947) for statewide road construction information.
Visit the WisDOT Web site for statewide driving conditions and other travel-related information. Updates on the Marquette Interchange Project in Milwaukee are available at www.mchange.org.
For a free copy of “Travel Easy,” showing the state’s largest construction projects, call (800) 242-2514 or e-mail a request to opa.exec@dot.state.wi.us. 
For more information, contact: 
Dennis Shook, WisDOT SE Region Communications Manager
(414) 750-2395, dennis.shook@dot.state.wi.us