Southwest Region construction update

December 8, 2008

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is providing a weekly update on road construction in Southwest Wisconsin, which includes the counties of Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Juneau, LaFayette, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Rock, Sauk and Vernon.

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

NOTE: The Southwest region weekly construction update will be updated in spring 2009.

Columbia County

I-39/90/94
Location: Lake Delton - Madison Road, rest areas 11 and 12
Description: Rest area reconstruction
Schedule: October 2008 - October 2010
Traffic impact:  Rest areas will remain open to motorists during construction, except for minor closures to upgrade or convert to new utilities.
Contact: Tim Verhage, (608) 635-3822 (field office)

Crawford County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Dane County

US 151
Location: Sun Prairie - Columbus Road (Maunesha River Bridge)
Description: Deck replacement
Schedule: Sept. 15 - Dec. 5, 2008
Traffic impact: Single lane closures, southbound only. The traffic will be shifted to allow construction of the new bridge deck half of the time.
Contact: Robert Lex, (608) 246-5622, (608) 516-6487, robert.lex@dot.state.wi.us

US 12/Madison Beltline
Location: Old Sauk Road to Gammon Road and Old Sauk Road and Mineral Point Road interchanges
Description: Ramp improvements
Schedule: Aug. 11 - Nov. 21, 2008
Traffic impact: Expect 15-minute ramp closures to place overhead sign structures on the US 12/West Madison Beltline exit ramps to Old Sauk Road and Mineral Point Road, beginning at 8 p.m. Only one ramp will be closed at a time. Schedule subject to change.
Contact: Gary Sassman, (608) 246-3859, gary.sassman@dot.state.wi.us

US 12/Madison Beltline
Location: Seminole Highway to I-90
Description: Sign replacement and sign structure repair
Schedule: Nov. 17 - Dec. 20, 2008
Traffic impact: Night time lane closures on the Beltline from 11 p.m. - 5 a.m.  Single night ramp closures anticipated for the week of Nov. 17: Eastbound Beltline on-ramp from Rimrock Road, eastbound off-ramp to John Nolen Drive, eastbound off-ramp to South Towne Drive, eastbound off ramp to Monona Drive.
Contact: Curt Neuhauser, (608) 219-1331, curt.neuhauser@dot.state.wi.us; or Kim Ballweg, (608) 212-5191

Dodge County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Dodge/Jefferson Counties

WIS 26
Location: WIS 19 to Union Pacific Railroad
Description: Reconstruction
Schedule: Apr. 28 to Nov. 17, 2008
Traffic impact: WIS 26 will be closed to through traffic. The signed detour is WIS 19, County K, County Q in both directions. Local access will be maintained as much as practical. The detour will be down on Monday (Nov. 17) evening and the roadway open to traffic. There will still be parking lane closures to complete the remaining work.
Contact: Monty Carlson, Project Leader, (920) 261-3960; Teri Schopp, Project Manager, (608) 516-6467, teri.schopp@dot.state.wi.us

Grant County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Green, Lafayette, Iowa, and Dane Counties

WIS 78
Location: Blanchardville - Dane County H
Description: Work includes grading, base aggregate, storm sewer and culvert pipes, curb and gutter, permanent signing and incidentals.
Schedule: May 16 to Nov. 14, 2008. Surface layer of asphalt will be placed next spring and will be completed by May 22, 2009.
Traffic impact: WIS 78 traffic will be closed to through traffic. Northbound traffic will be detoured onto County F to County A and then to WIS 78 in Daleyville. Southbound traffic to follow the reverse path.
Contact: Tara Weiss, (608) 516-1725, tara.weiss@dot.state.wi.us

Iowa County

US 14
Location: Spring Green - East County Line Road
Description: Wisconsin River Bridge and approaches
Schedule: Oct. 15, 2008 - Jan. 15, 2009
Traffic impact: US 14 will remain open while the bridge is being constructed south of the existing structure. The boat launch under the US 14 bridge will be closed during construction for safety reasons. Contact DNR at (608) 275-3481 for recommended alternate launches.
Contact: Robert Lex, Project Manager, (608) 246-5622, (608) 516-6487, robert.lex@dot.state.wi.us

Jefferson County

I-94
Location: Airport Road to County Y (10 miles)
Schedule: Jul. 28 - Nov. 21, 2008
Description: Bridge raising, pavement rehabilitation and pavement marking
Traffic impact: Single lane nighttime only closures; exit and entrance ramps will be open at all times. There could be lane closures in both directions or in a single direction. Between Monday evening and Friday morning, lane closures will occur between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. west of WIS 89 and between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. east of WIS 89. Overnight lane closures between Saturday night and Sunday morning are limited to 10 p.m. to 9 a.m. for eastbound and from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. westbound. Overnight lane closures between Sunday night and Monday morning are limited to 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. for eastbound and from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. westbound. Alternate routes are signed and can be used if backups start to occur. It is anticipated that the following road closures for County Q, Ziebel Road, County N will occur in order to raise the bridges over I-94. Please read signs and slow down in construction zones.
Contact: Jim Buschkopf, (608) 246-3851, james.buschkopf@dot.state.wi.us

Juneau County

I-90/94
Location: Camp Douglas to Wisconsin Dells
Description: Median barrier and beamguard
Schedule: Sept. 29 - Nov. 17, 2008
Traffic impact: Intermittent weekday shoulder closures
Contact: Brad Byom, (608) 792-5099, brad.byom@dot.state.wi.us

La Crosse County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Lafayette County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Monroe County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Richland County

WIS 56
Location: Viola to County G - 0.07 miles east of WIS 131 easterly to 0.12 miles east of River Road
Description: Bridge replacement with plus or minus 1 mile of grading
Schedule: Apr. 30 - Dec. 5, 2008
Traffic impact: Traffic will be intermittently down to one lane with flagging operations.
Contact: Steve Vetsch, Project Leader, (608) 792-5719, (608) 627-1732, stephan.vetsch@dot.state.wi.us

Rock County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Sauk County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Vernon County

No state construction projects currently in progress.

Walworth County

No state construction projects currently in progress

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 WisDOT's 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 email a request to opa.exec@dot.state.wi.us.

For more information, contact:
Lois Losby, WisDOT SW Region Communications
(608) 785-9958, lois.losby@dot.state.wi.us