MONROE — Traffic is shifting as progress continues on the overhaul of nearly 6 miles of Wisconsin 11.

Stage 2B of the reconstruction of the highway that stretches 5.5 miles from Wis. 81 to Hiltbrand Lane will begin over the week of the Fourth of July, per Fehr Graham Senior Engineering Technician Ken Plowman.

The project, which began at the end of March, is slated for completion in the fall. It includes an overhaul of deteriorating concrete along Wis. 11, but includes the Wis. 81, Wis. 69 and Wis. 59 interchange ramps. 

When work began, all four ramps at the interchange of Wis. 11 and Wis. 59 were closed. Traffic to reach the Monroe Municipal Airport, Sylvester Township and beyond was detoured past the north industrial park along County DR. County KK and Richland Road were closed, as were the southern ramps of the Wis. 81/69 overpass. 

Plowman noted that the Wis. 59 ramps could be open on July 3. However, with the opening of some exit ramps comes the closure of others as the project continues. 

The southern ramps of Wis. 69, which becomes the 18th Street corridor for southbound drivers entering the city just west of Monroe Clinic, will be closed instead. The ramps north of Wis. 11 at the interchange will remain open. The southern ramps at Wisconsin 81/69 will remain closed. Workers anticipate the transition taking place from July 3 to July 8. 

Work in this stage is expected to last until around July 29. During July, work will be done on the eastbound lanes of Wis. 11 at the Wis. 69 and 18th Street interchange. At the end of July or in early August, Plowman anticipates another traffic change, which will put drivers on the new concrete while remaining in one-lane traffic each direction. Contractors will then restart the process on the westbound lanes in August. 

Plowman noted that the timeline may be affected by adverse weather conditions.