Drivers Feel Pain Of Highway 32 Closure

RACINE COUNTY, WI — It's 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4. The snow is gradually starting to melt away, giving way to construction season. Along Highway 32 in northern Racine County, rush-hour traffic backed up along the detour route as lines of cars waited in lines to jog west on Six Mile Road toward Highway 31 or seek alternate routes.

WIS 32, within the village of Caledonia, in Racine County. South project limit is about 1,000 feet south of 5 Mile Road. North project limit is about ½ mile north of the intersection of WIS 32 and WIS 31. Project length is about 1.7 miles.

Overview

• Maintenance resurfacing project with additional lane through intersection from 6 Mile Road to WIS 31.
• Intersection improvements at 5 Mile Road, 6 Mile Road and WIS 31.
• Traffic signal installation at 6 Mile Road and WIS 32.

Need/purpose

The project’s need was established based on several criteria by the DOT:

• Physical issues, age of facility, and related deficiencies
• Increasing traffic volume and congestion
• Safety concerns and crashes
• Bicycle facilities
• System linkage and route importance

The purpose of this project is to improve the condition of the pavement, and to provide intersection improvements to meet forecasted traffic volumes, improve safety, and accommodate the needs of pedestrians and bicyclists.

Status

April 2018 Update: Utility Work Taking Place
The activity that has recently started in this area is the utility relocation effort needed prior to the start of the roadway construction project. There are two planned full closures of WIS 32 and one on WIS 31 to accomplish this work.

• The WIS 32 closure for work to be completed south of WIS 31 will post a detour route using 4 Mile Road and WIS 31. For the closure north of WIS 31, the detour route will be using 6 Mile, WIS 38 and 7 Mile. These full closures are scheduled to be in place until early July, depending on weather.

• The closure of WIS 31, between 6 Mile Road and WIS 32, will use a short detour using 6 Mile Road and WIS 32. This closure is scheduled to be in place until the week of April 9, depending on weather.

Throughout the utility work, there will also be lane closures controlled by flaggers to allow traffic to flow, as well as shoulder closures.

Schedule

• Utility relocation work is scheduled to be completed by fall of 2018, followed by roadway construction being completed by fall of 2019.

Traffic impacts/detour:

• The roadway construction project will be closed to through traffic during construction, but access to local properties will be maintained.
• The detour route will be posted.

Patch.com Photo