Multiyear pavement project on US 53 in Chippewa County to start

Multiyear pavement project on US 53 in Chippewa County to start
Work includes replacing the pavement on US 53 between 40^th Avenue and County B, along with the ramps at the County X, County S and County B interchanges

To invest in Wisconsin’s transportation system, Gov. Tony Evers has signed a $36.6 million contract with prime contractor James Peterson Sons, Inc. of Medford for a multiyear pavement replacement project on US 53 from 40^th Avenue in Lake Hallie to County B in the town of Tilden, all in Chippewa County. Construction is scheduled to start Monday, April 1. This segment of US 53 has reached the end of its service life. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation project will:

·         Replace the pavement on north- and southbound US 53, the ramps at the Business 29/County X, County S and County B interchanges and the crossroads between ramp terminals along County S and County B.

·         Complete polymer overlays on the four bridges over the Chippewa River and Business 29/County X.

·         Replace guardrail and right-of-way fence.

·         Maintain culverts through cleaning and making end repairs and replacing one cross culvert.

·         Repair erosion on the east side of a box culvert that carries Tilden Creek south of County B.

·         Install a high-friction surface treatment on the pavement near the Business 29/County X interchange on US 53 to reduce run-off-the-road and out-of-control crashes; plantings for snow fence to minimize snow drifting at four locations; new pavement markings; and shoulder rumble strips.

Construction in 2024 will include:

·         Building temporary crossovers north and south of the project limits, ramp crossovers at County S and County B and emergency pullouts.

·         Completing temporary widening at the northbound US 53 exit ramp at County B and along County S.

·         Resurfacing east- and westbound County S and the interchange ramps.

·         Replacing the pavement on northbound US 53 north of County N.

Initially, motorists will encounter single-lane closures on north – and southbound US 53. Once the replacement of pavement on the northbound lanes north of County N to County B begins after Labor Day, one lane of traffic will be maintained in both directions on the southbound lanes. 

Construction in 2024 is scheduled for completion in October, with overall project completion in June 2026.

For more information regarding traffic impacts, transportation news and improvement project updates in Wisconsin’s Northwest Region:

·         Follow us on Twitter: @WisDOTnorthwest

·         Visit the region’s 511 website: projects.511wi.gov/region/northwest/  

·         Visit the project’s 511 website: projects.511wi.gov/us53cc/

Motorists are reminded that using handheld cell phones in Wisconsin work zones is illegal. Alerts and updates provided via these sites are not intended for use while driving. When driving, your focus should always be on driving.