Spring Break
New bypass to be added around City of Eau Claire
Bridge on U.S. 12 to be built, all lanes in construction area will open in November
Nathaniel Shuda
Issue date: 9/12/05 Section: Campus News
Imagine the typical college student driving down the road in late summer with the windows rolled down and the stereo turned up as high as it will go.
All of a sudden, orange signs appear out of nowhere and large orange barrels block the road, forcing traffic through a two-lane undivided stretch of highway.
This description could be similar to what many UW-Eau Claire students experienced as they returned to school last week, as roadwork continued on U.S. 53, U.S. 12 and Highway 93.
The construction, a part of the new U.S. 53 project, will result in a new bypass around the City of Eau Claire, said Brent Pickard, communications manager at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
The work zone stretches from south of North Crossing down to the Golf Road area, according to the state DOT.
Just north of Golf Road, where the most construction is taking place, all traffic has been switched to the south-bound lanes, Pickard said, explaining that all lanes should be open in November.
In addition to the U.S. 53 project, workers also are in the process of replacing the bridge that crosses the Chippewa River on U.S. 12, according to the state DOT Web site.
Workers took out the old bridge in spring 2005 after officials decided it needed to be replaced, Pickard said. The bridge, which was more than 50 years old, was located in what will become the west-bound lanes of the new bridge, he said.
Bridge crews now are in the process of putting the deck on the new structure, Pickard said.
Construction also is slated to begin on Interstate 94 between Highway 37 and U.S. 53. Officials also have made plans to proceed, with construction from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday through Thursday in that area, Pickard said.
"We don't have any detours set up (on U.S. 53), so there is going to be traffic congestion," Pickard said.
People traveling through the construction zones should plan for delays and watch out for the safety of themselves and others, he said.
Pickard added, "Fines double in work zones, so watch the speed limit signs and obey them, and take some time getting through."
All of a sudden, orange signs appear out of nowhere and large orange barrels block the road, forcing traffic through a two-lane undivided stretch of highway.
| "We don't want any detours ... so there is going to be congestion." -Brent Pickard DOT spokesman |
This description could be similar to what many UW-Eau Claire students experienced as they returned to school last week, as roadwork continued on U.S. 53, U.S. 12 and Highway 93.
The construction, a part of the new U.S. 53 project, will result in a new bypass around the City of Eau Claire, said Brent Pickard, communications manager at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
The work zone stretches from south of North Crossing down to the Golf Road area, according to the state DOT.
Just north of Golf Road, where the most construction is taking place, all traffic has been switched to the south-bound lanes, Pickard said, explaining that all lanes should be open in November.
In addition to the U.S. 53 project, workers also are in the process of replacing the bridge that crosses the Chippewa River on U.S. 12, according to the state DOT Web site.
Workers took out the old bridge in spring 2005 after officials decided it needed to be replaced, Pickard said. The bridge, which was more than 50 years old, was located in what will become the west-bound lanes of the new bridge, he said.
Bridge crews now are in the process of putting the deck on the new structure, Pickard said.
Construction also is slated to begin on Interstate 94 between Highway 37 and U.S. 53. Officials also have made plans to proceed, with construction from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday through Thursday in that area, Pickard said.
"We don't have any detours set up (on U.S. 53), so there is going to be traffic congestion," Pickard said.
People traveling through the construction zones should plan for delays and watch out for the safety of themselves and others, he said.
Pickard added, "Fines double in work zones, so watch the speed limit signs and obey them, and take some time getting through."