Road work gets underway on US 53

Construction work started on a 2-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 53 between Gordon and Wascott this week.

The southbound lane is being ripped up and shifted to run adjacent with the curving northbound lane. The reason for the work, according to project leader Brian Mattson with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, is age. The two-lane stretch is the original pavement from when 53 was a two-lane highway and, Mattson said, it’s time to remove it. In the process, it will be moved closer to Two Mile Lake.

The project has been in the works for a number of years, Mattson said.

All traffic is expected to shift to the northbound lane by the end of the week. No closures or delays are expected, but the two-way section will have a lowered speed limit of 55 mph.

The $4.8 million project is slated for completion by Aug. 18.

Hoffman Construction of Black River Falls is the contractor for the project.

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