Southeast Region construction update

November 28, 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 impact exists in the locations listed below. Closures listed are subject to change and are weather-dependent. 

Kenosha County

WIS 31 (Green Bay Road)
Location: County K (60th Street) intersection
Schedule: Sept. 2 - November 2008
Length: 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 impact: All intersection approaches will remain open to traffic during construction. On Oct. 17, intersection right-turn lane areas were completed and reopened to traffic.  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 are posted in the project vicinity with right turns by trucks prohibited at this intersection. Oct. 17 - Nov. 25, 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: Apr. 23 - 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 impact: 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 181 (N. 76th Street)
  WIS 181 project
Location: Clinton Avenue to W. County Line Road
Schedule: Mar. 10 - late December 2008
Length: 2.67 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.
Traffic impact: Four stages of construction have been used in order to maintain access and keep WIS 181 open. Construction activities for the project began on Mar. 10, 2008. Stage 1, which involved median work and temporary traffic signal installation, was completed the middle of April. Stage 2, which involved reconstruction of the northbound lanes, was completed the beginning of August. Stage 3, which involved the reconstruction of the southbound lanes, was completed the week of Nov. 3.

Construction operations are currently in Stage 4. The median lane, for both northbound and southbound traffic, is closed in order to permit completion of the work within the median. There are two northbound lanes and two southbound lanes of traffic from Clinton Avenue to Brown Deer Road along North 76th Street. From Brown Deer Road to West County Line Road, there is one lane of northbound and one of lane southbound traffic along North 76th Street. Side roads are open to traffic. However, in order to keep side roads open and maintain traffic, construction operations will be staged and traffic patterns along the side roads will change. In addition, left turns along North 76th Street for northbound traffic will be closed at times to allow construction activities to take place. Therefore, northbound North 76th Street traffic will not be permitted to go westbound at select side roads. As a result, traffic will have to access these side roads by heading southbound on North 76th Street.

Note:  Original construction completion date was Nov. 7, 2008.  The new target date for completion is late December 2008.

Remaining work items this year:

• Asphalt paving at select locations along northbound and southbound median lane, median openings, and intersections.   Will be completed as soon as weather permits.
• Permanent traffic signal installation and removal of temporary traffic signals at select intersections within the project limits to be completed by mid-December.
• Removal and replacement of bridge bearings for North 76th Street bridge over the railroad tracks just north of Tower Avenue.  Work scheduled to begin early December and be completed by mid-December.

Carryover items:

• Pavement markings
• Median sidewalk
• Landscaping
• Sidewalks where light poles are in proposed sidewalk location. Asphalt will be placed once light pole removed and concrete sidewalk placed next year.
• Two modular block walls north end of project. These are small walls. Utility conflicts. Have to wait to buried gas and electric to move. Plan B is currently in place to maintain slopes if necessary during winter.
• Asphalt terrace along Brown Deer Road under WIS 181 will be removed and replaced with concrete. This was added to the plan.

Ozaukee County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Racine County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Walworth County

WIS 120
Location: East Troy to WIS 36
Schedule: Aug. 18 - late fall 2008
Length: 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 impact: WIS 120 and side roads will be open to traffic during construction using flagging operations for lane closures. WIS 120 under I-43 will be constructed in stages.

US 14
Location: Madison Street in the village of Darien to County X (Walworth County)
Schedule: September - Dec. 5, 2008
Length: 0.5 miles
Cost: $3,197,427
Type of work: Drainage improvement - the existing storm sewer and pavement will be removed. The project includes storm sewer, curb and gutter, retaining walls, barrier wall, sidewalk and HMA pavement.
Traffic impact: The roadway will be closed to through traffic from Sept. 8 - Dec. 5, 2008. There is a signed detour route using I-43 to County X corridors.

Washington County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Waukesha County

WIS 59 (Greenfield Avenue)
Location: Barker Road to Baythorn Way
Schedule: August 2008 - June 2009
Length:  0.666 miles
Cost: $3.1 million estimated
Type of work: Reconstruction of entire road and addition of one lane in each direction from one end of the project to the other end.
Traffic impact: Traffic will be staged during construction. Greenfield Avenue will be open to traffic at all times. Flaggers will be on site as necessary when it is impractical to provide one lane of traffic during the off-peak daylight hours. No proposed detour is in place.

During the winter shut down, from the week of Nov. 17, 2008 until early spring of 2009, the traffic in the west bound direction will be using the newly constructed two west bound lanes on Greenfield Avenue, while the east bound traffic will be restricted to one lane. Traffic in the eastbound direction will be using the inside lane of the existing and temporary road of the south half of the highway. No left turns will be allowed at the intersection with Pfiel Road. Other side streets will be open to traffic without any restrictions. When the roadway construction resumes in spring of 2009, traffic in both directions on Greenfield Avenue will be restricted to one lane in each direction on the newly constructed west bound lanes so the construction of the proposed east bound lanes can take place; 12-foot lanes will be provided at all times and no proposed detour is in place.

I-94
Location: Intersection with Calhoun Road
Schedule: Jun. 2, 2008 - Jul. 31, 2009
Length: 0.2 miles
Cost: $6 million estimated
Type of work: Reconstruction/bridge replacement
Traffic impact: Traffic lanes in both directions on I-94 have returned to their original location and the regulatory speed limit returned to 65 mph. Additional off peak closures are expected in the next couple of weeks to complete pavement marking, surface protection, and traffic control for the winter. The regulatory speed limit will return to 65 mph when these tasks are completed. The current situation is expected to remain until March 1, 2009, at which time all traffic will switch to the westbound lanes.

Calhoun Road
Location: From Greenfield Avenue intersection to Bluemound Road intersection
Schedule: Jun. 2, 2008 - Jul. 4, 2009
Length: 1.3 miles
Cost: $6 million
Type of work: Reconstruction and expansion/sidewalks/bridge replacement/retaining walls
Traffic impact: Calhoun Road will be closed between Greenfield Avenue and Bluemound Road from Jun. 2 until Nov. 28, 2008. Side roads will also be restricted from access and eggress 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 I-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 I-94 due to bridge construction. The eastbound right turn lane and a single westbound left turn lane from Bluemound Road is opened for business, school, and resident access. Turn lanes from Greenfield Avenue remain closed, and left turns restricted. Access is still allowed through right turn and through movement entries for local residents, school, and businesses. All of these access lanes and the lanes under I-94 will be available for use between the opening on Nov. 28, 2008 until Mar. 1, 2009, when all lanes will be closed again to complete construction.

Moorland Road and I-43 Interchange
Location: Project limits on I-43 are from Sunnyslope to Calhoun. Project limits on Moorland are from Rock Ridge Road to Beloit Road.
Schedule: Apr. 30, 2007 - Jun. 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 impact: 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.

I-94
Location: County P Interchange
Schedule: Sept. 24 - November 2008
Length: 2.254 miles
Cost: $2.0 million
Type of work: Construct temporary crossovers and widening along I-94, including removing trees and stumps for the future interchange project.
Traffic impact: I-94 will remain open to traffic with shoulder closures and off peak lane closures. One eastbound lane will be closed between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. One westbound lane will be closed between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. through 2 p.m. on Friday.

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