Highway 57 Resurfacing Plans Detailed

Baileys Harbor Town Supervisor Robert Schultz discusses with Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) Project Manager Jeremy Ashauer aspects of the plans to resurface Highway 57 from County Q to Highway 42 in Sister Bay during a meeting held for government officials at the Baileys Harbor Town Hall on Feb. 27. A public meeting on the project will be held on March 18.

Municipal officials gathered at Baileys Harbor Town Hall on Feb. 27 for a preview of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s (WisDOT) plans for resurfacing a northern section of Highway 57 in 2016.

Jeremy Ashauer, project manager for the WisDOT Northeast Region, was on hand to outline the plans and answer questions. He fielded several questions about making improvements to dangerous intersections along the route by saying he would bring the concerns back to his office, but emphasized that this is a resurfacing project, not a road reconstruction project.

The project includes:

• Milling and resurfacing 57 from County Q intersection to Highway 42 in Sister Bay;

• Replacing the existing culvert pipes within the project limits;

• Replacing the existing box culvert between Ahrens (Cedar) Road and Meadow Road with a bridge structure;

• Minor grading to improve drainage in three locations – 200 feet of ditching along the east side of 57, approximately 800 feet north of the south County Q intersection; 100 feet of ditching along the east side of 57, approximately 400 feet south of Sun Plaza Road; installation of 300 feet of curb and gutter along the west side of 57, approximately 300 feet north of Settlement Road.

Real estate acquisition is scheduled to begin in August 2014. Encroachments will be identified during the design process and affected property owners will be contacted via mail if any action is required. Ashauer said there are several encroachments within the right-of-way which will need to be moved or permitted prior to construction.

Final plans for the project will be completed May 1, 2015, and project letting opens on Nov. 10, 2015. Construction begins Aug. 2016, with completion in Nov. 2016. 

Ashauer said WisDOT is committed to staging this project in a manner that minimizes impacts to area properties while completing the project as quickly as possible.

The following traffic control is anticipated:

• A detour for Highway 57 will direct traffic along County Q from the south 57/County Q intersection to the north 57/County Q intersection. The detour will be in place during the structure replacement and the culvert pipe replacements between the 57/County Q intersections. Access to all properties along 57 will be maintained during this detour.

• A second detour for 57 will direct traffic along County Q and 42 from the north 57/County Q intersection to the 57/42 intersection. The detour will be in place during the culvert pipe replacements between the north County Q and 42 intersections with 57. Access to all properties along Hwy. 57 will be maintained during this detour.

Highway 57 will be open for Fall Fest weekend.

In order to construct the replacement bridge between Ahrens (Cedar) Road and Meadow Road to a width consistent with current roadway design standards and to grade the attached guardrail, temporary limited easements will be required for both properties on either side of 57.

The lands – Mud Lake State Natural Area and The North Bay Preserve – are owned, respectively, by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and The Nature Conservancy.

Ashauer said the affected areas are 0.11 acres in the Mud Lake State Natural Area and 0.06 acres in the North Bay Preserve.

WisDOT will hold another informational meeting for the public at the Baileys Harbor Town Hall on March 18.