For the Tomahawk Leader
LINCOLN COUNTY – Governor Tony Evers recently signed a $14,835,762 contract to improve U.S. Highway 51 north and south, between the Lincoln County line in the Town of Pine River and Lincoln County Highway K in Merrill, a Friday, July 9 release from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) said.
Work is scheduled to begin Monday, July 19. American Asphalt of Wisconsin is the prime contractor for the project.
Improvements include removing the existing asphalt surface and crushed concrete below it and placing new base materials and asphalt pavement. Other improvements include minor grading at median crossovers for traffic control, repaving maintenance crossovers and interchange ramps. Guard rail will be modified on the northbound US 51 bridge over WIS 64, WisDOT said.
“When construction begins, motorists will encounter single lane closures in each direction from 6 a.m. Monday to noon on Friday until mid-Aug. 2021,” WisDOT stated. “After Labor Day, traffic will be counter directional in the northbound lanes from the Marathon/Lincoln county line to County K until mid-Nov. 2021 while work on the southbound US 51 lanes occurs. Access to all ramps will remain open except for three-day closures during ramp work. Two consecutive ramps will not be closed at the same time. Construction will resume in spring 2022 on the northbound lanes.”
Construction is scheduled for completion by Nov. 15, 2022. The schedule is dependent on favorable weather conditions and construction progress, WisDOT said.
A project website is available at www.projects.511wi.gov/us51nbsb/ and will be updated weekly or as needed.