Work on Wisconsin River bridge ongoing

By Jalen Maki

Tomahawk Leader Co-Editor

The finish line is in sight for crews working on Highway 86 west of Tomahawk.

The project, which began in June, is slated to wrap up Thursday, Oct. 17, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. By the time the work is done, the stretch of Highway 86 from the Price County line at County Highway YY to the Wisconsin River Bridge south of Tomahawk will be repaved. Work consisted of milling the top two inches of existing pavement and repaving the roadway with two inches of new asphaltic pavement. Nine cross culverts were replaced, along with substandard cable guard and guardrail, including new guardrail at the Spirit River Flowage.

Highway 86 closed for two weeks in July from County Road O to County Road E for culvert and cable barrier replacements, which saw traffic detoured via Highways 13, 8 and 51.

Construction on the Wisconsin River bridge will continue well into next year. The DOT lists the anticipated end for the project, which started in July, as May 2020. Motorists have encountered temporary traffic signals and narrowed roadways on the bridge in recent weeks.