Slow-moving motorists and getting cut off by others are two major pet peeves of drivers, but they probably don’t compare to the sight of orange barrels and detour signs.
For anyone driving around Shawano County the past several weeks, it’s enough to make you want to stay home.
Around the city of Shawano, state Highway 29 is down to one lane, and the exits in and out of Bonduel switch between open and closed. Even the thought of taking County Road BE between the communities was ruled out for several weeks.
Then, just to make matters worse on Highway 29, a semi trailer full of wood chips caught on fire a few weeks ago, forcing vehicles to detour through the city for several hours.
Along Highway 29 between County Road M and Highland Road, crews are repairing concrete joints, replacing sections of deteriorated concrete pavement, milling and overlaying the asphalt shoulders and replacing the guardrails, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
Workers are also removing old concrete pavement and placing new concrete pavement on the state Highway 117/47 ramps, milling Highway 29 inside shoulders and placing new asphalt shoulders, and installing new guardrails and gravel shoulders.
Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction, but the ramps by Bonduel are both expected to be open for good before the month ends.
In both directions along Highway 29 from County Road J to County Road M, crews are replacing existing guardrails, repairing the concrete pavement, replacing the concrete pavement in five areas and replacing a culvert under westbound Highway 29.
Watch for lane closures and crossover traffic patterns.
Work is scheduled to continue through Nov. 5.
Also on Highway 29, from County Road D to County Road OO, crews will complete concrete pavement joint and crack repairs, replace concrete pavement, resurface the existing asphalt pavement, replace existing guardrails, install shoulder rumble strips and complete rehabilitation work on the Highway 29 (eastbound) structure over the South Branch Embarrass River.
Again, watch for lane closures and crossover traffic patterns. Speeds will also be reduced. Work will continue until July 31.
A project along state Highway 22 from County Road BE to the Oconto County line will include asphalt replacement, culvert repair and intersection improvements.
Crews began replacing a cross culvert starting south of County Road C and progressing toward Cecil. They will also work on smaller areas between County Road R and County Road C in preparation for guardrail improvements.
Watch for road closures and a signed detour.
This project will continue through Oct. 1.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
Crews work on new shoulders along state Highway 29 around Shawano. Lane closures, reduced speeds and detours are in full swing, with several road projects going on simultaneously. (Greg Mellis | NEW Media)
