MONROE — Construction season is set to begin just as spring arrives in Green County as the state Department of Transportation recently announced that the reconstruction of Wisconsin 11 and its bypasses will begin Monday.
According to a release by WisDOT, “the project will address deteriorating concrete pavement and poor ride quality” on over 5 miles of the highway between Wis. 81 and Hiltbrand Lane and includes work on ramps at Wis. 81, 69 and 59. Work will also improve the Wis. 11 intersections with County KK, Stauffacher Road, Richland Road and Hiltbrand.
Green County Highway Commissioner Chris Narveson said the “county will have little to do on the project,” aside from inspections and possibly providing more request emergency vehicles for traffic. He noted that the work on Wis. 11 is the first in over two decades.
And not too soon for many residents, as Facebook comments on the announcement made by the Green County Sheriff’s Office indicated the road is in horrible condition. Narveson said it is especially evident in recent months as little was done to maintenance the roads despite a brutal winter which resulted in asphalt being torn up. He added that the state’s general contractor on the project is Mashuda Contractors Inc. of Princeton.
Work set to begin Monday will take away one lane on each side of the two-lane highway. Work will begin in the eastbound lane, shifting traffic to the westbound lane on each side. Narveson noted it will be a lengthy project, set to last months.
“It’s a complete reconstruction,” he said.
Improvements to bridges and ramps will also take place at Wis. 81, 69 and 59. Officials noted detours will be posted as ramps and bridges are closed for work.
The Badger State Trail will also be closed during construction. A detour will include use of County DR and Wis. 69/18th Avenue. Completion of the project is scheduled for the fall.
Narveson said the project will be overseen by the state and uses state funds, not money like the recently implemented county wheel tax. When the board of supervisors passed the $20 wheel tax, members specifically noted the funds would be used for bridge, road and structural improvements of county roads.
Another road commonly bemoaned by local residents is Wis. 104. Narveson said the state is “also looking” at the highway and it could possibly receive its own project soon. He said he “didn’t want to get anyone’s hopes up,” but it is meant to be part of the 2020 budget.
“I’ll be pleasantly surprised,” he said, noting that the county has “begged the state” for updates on the roadway.