DARLINGTON — Wisconsin’s alleged second season outside winter — road construction — began last week.
The first and longest road project is the U.S. 61 reconstruction project between Alona Lane in Lancaster and Hickory Lane in Dickeyville. Preliminary work began Monday, with work expected to continue until mid-November.
The biggest 61 change will be the roundabout at the 61/Wisconsin 81 intersection south of Lancaster, replacing the intersection that despite added lanes has been the site of numerous crashes.
The project includes adding two new northbound passing lanes in each direction, with two existing northbound passing lanes and one southbound passing lane extended. The project also involves realigning six 61 intersections for safety improvements, at Kelly Lane, Abing Lane, Lone Elm Tree Road, Substation Road, Hudson Hollow Road and Stage Road.
The project will keep 61 open through construction with flagging operations and occasional traffic delays.
In Iowa County, Wisconsin 39 is being rebuilt from U.S. 18 in Edmund to Linden. Construction is beginning this month and running through late August. The project will close 39 to all but local traffic, with the posted detour U.S. 151 from Mineral Point to Dodgeville and U.S. 18 to Edmund.
The other Iowa County project is replacement of the Wisconsin 130 Lone Rock bridge with a new bridge west of the existing bridge, a project that will continue through 2025. The existing bridge will be open during construction except for some temporary closings, with the eastbound 130 detour U.S. 14 and Wisconsin 23 to cross the Wisconsin River in Spring Green, and the westbound detour 14, Wisconsin 60, Wisconsin 80 and Wisconsin 133 to cross the Wisconsin River in Muscoda.
2023 SW Wis. Road Projects
Other local projects scheduled for this year:
● The U.S. 14/61/Wisconsin 27/82/Vernon County T intersection south of Viroqua, which will be replaced by a roundabout with the wayside west of the intersection removed.
● The U.S. 18/South Towne Lane/Selch Road intersection in Prairie du Chien, which will have left-turn lanes added.
● Wisconsin 78 between Wisconsin 11 in Gratiot and Lafayette County D in Wiota. The project will keep 78 open with flagging operations.
● Wisconsin 80 between Business 151 in Platteville and Jackson Street in Cuba City, which will include a roundabout at the 80/Wisconsin 81 intersection, a turn-lane expansion at the Platteville Municipal Airport, and repair of the Rountree Branch bridge south of Business 151.
The bridge work will include a detour of U.S. 151 and West Business 151. The roundabout work will close 81 and Patch Road at the 80 intersection with the 81 detour Wisconsin 126 to Belmont and 151 to Platteville.
● Wisconsin 60 between Bridgeport and the Kickapoo River bridge east of Wauzeka, with resurfacing outside of Wauzeka and new pavement in Wauzeka. The detour will be U.S. 18 from Bridgeport to Fennimore and U.S. 61 from Fennimore to Boscobel.
● U.S. 14/61 between Brendel Lane and South Washington Lane in Viroqua, with restriping of the four-lane road to three lanes with a center turn lane, between late summer and fall.