US 63 resurfacing underway between Cumberland and Turtle Lake

Construction is underway on US 63 between Cumberland and Turtle Lake, with the highway remaining open while crews work through the corridor. Drivers should expect slower travel, alternating one-lane traffic and changing work-zone controls through the scheduled mid-November completion.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation awarded Monarch Paving Co. of Amery an $8.66 million contract for the project. Work covers US 63 from US 8 East in Turtle Lake to WIS 48 West in Cumberland.

What drivers should expect

WisDOT says US 63 will remain open during construction. Traffic will move through work areas using single-lane closures controlled by flaggers and temporary traffic signals. Some side-road restrictions may also occur as individual work areas shift.

The City of Cumberland’s July 21 construction update said work was underway south of Cumberland toward Turtle Lake. The first phase includes culvert, grading and restoration work. Milling is scheduled to begin the week of August 31, with paving expected around September 21.

Those dates are part of the current construction schedule and may change as work conditions develop. Motorists using US 63 between Cumberland and Turtle Lake should allow extra travel time, particularly when temporary signals or flagging operations are active.

What the project will include

The project calls for milling 2.25 inches of asphalt from the existing roadway and placing 3.25 inches of new hot-mix asphalt. Crews also will perform culvert work, replace guardrail, complete curb and gutter work and install new pavement markings.

Safety and roadside improvements include shoulder rumble strips, high-friction surface treatment on two curves and widening paved shoulders from 3 feet to 5 feet. The work is intended to improve pavement condition, drainage, roadside safety and travel conditions along the corridor.

WisDOT lists construction from July 20 through mid-November. The completion date is a scheduled target, not a guarantee, and traffic conditions are expected to change by work phase. Drivers should check current Wisconsin 511 construction updates before traveling through the project area.

Sources

• WisDOT US 63 Barron County project announcement
• City of Cumberland construction project updates