Construction Update – June 4, 2026

Highway and project ID USH 51 (5845-16-73, 74 & 83)

Project limits, location Stoughton - Madison - Harrison St to Roby Rd - Roby Road to S CTH B/AB

Project length 1.288 miles & 3.624 miles

Overall schedule March 24, 2026 – Oct 27, 2027

Project contact Tadd Owens - Consultant Project Leader CORRE towens@correinc.com - (608) 617-5460

Note: Updates are shown in red below.

Project Description: The work under this contract shall consist of excavation common, excavation rock, excavation marsh, select crushed material, base course dense, concrete pavement, HMA pavement, monotube cantilever sign structures, concrete curb and gutter, concrete sidewalk, concrete barrier, storm sewer, culvert pipe, permanent signing, traffic control, pavement marking, lighting, temporary traffic signals, traffic signals, sanitary sewer system components, water distribution system components, MGS guardrail, wall concrete panel mechanically stabilized earth, concrete masonry culverts (pedestrian underpasses), concrete masonry retaining walls, and all incidental items necessary to complete the work as shown on the plans and included in the proposal and contract.

Overall traffic impacts/holiday work restrictions: In 2026, USH 51 will be open to traffic for the vast majority of the time. There will be a short-term closure (max of 21 calendar days) that will be allowed for the utility work in Stoughton and a short-term closure of STH 138 (max of 14 calendar days) during the construction. Detours will be provided during these closures. Additionally, there will be several nighttime closures of USH 51 north of Stoughton for the placement of pipe culverts across the road during the off-peak hours in 2026. These closures will be short term (i.e. one night). Due to this, no detours will be provided during these activities and traffic will simply have to find their way. These nighttime closures will be limited to 3 separate nights during the 2026 construction year. The reconstruction in 2026 will run from Harrison St to S Quam Road in 2026 and this work will be completed in 2026 and fully open to traffic in 2027. The work for 2027 will consist of the reconstruction of USH 51 from S Quam Road to CTH B/AB. USH 51 through this stretch will be closed to traffic in 2027 and a detour will be provided. Access will be maintained to the local residents / business owners though this will change throughout the 2027 construction year. Emergency access will always be maintained through the work zone for the duration of the project although this will change at various times as well. The are several provisions regarding the maintenance of local and pedestrian traffic through the construction zone during the duration of the project.

The following holiday and special event work restrictions are contained in the contract. No work will occur during the following dates/times that will impede the free flow of traffic:

Projects 5845-16-73 and 5845-16-83

• Noon Friday, July 3, 2026 to 6:00 a.m. Monday, July 6, 2026 for Independence Day

• Noon Friday, September 4, 2026 to 6:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 8, 2026 for Labor Day

• Noon Wednesday, November 25, 2026 to 6:00 a.m. Monday, November 30, 2025 for Thanksgiving

Project 5845-16-74

• Noon Friday, July 3, 2026 to 6:00 AM Monday, July 6, 2026, for Independence Day

• Noon Friday, September 4, 2026 to 6:00 AM Tuesday, September 8, 2026, for Labor Day

• Noon Wednesday, November 25, 2026 to 6:00 AM Monday, November 30, 2026 for Thanksgiving

• Noon Friday, May 28, 2027 to 6:00 AM Tuesday, June 1, 2027, for Memorial Day

• Noon Friday, July 2, 2027 to 6:00 AM Tuesday, July 6, 2027, for Independence Day

• Noon Friday, September 3, 2027 to 6:00 AM Tuesday, September 7, 2027, for Labor Day

• Noon Wednesday, November 24, 2027 to 6:00 AM Monday, November 29, 2027 for Thanksgiving.

Work completed since last update:

This week, the contractors shut down the mainline between Van Buren and West main. They had multiple crews working in this area to install the new storm sewer lines and structures, the new sanitary lines and structures and the new watermain. The vast majority of the underground work occurred in this area in the past week.

The contractors worked grading in several areas. They started grading from Van Buren to Gjertson as the underground work was completed. They worked grading south of Roby Road. They also resumed grading out north of CTH B. Essentially, they were grading wherever they had the ability to so this past week. Note that they also worked on placing aggregates for the new roadway as the grading is finished.

The contractors worked on the pedestrian underpass north of Rutland Dunn Townline Road. They have poured the floor and part of the wall for the portion of the culvert on the SB side of the roadway.

Anticipated work schedule for next week:

Next week, the contractors will work on finishing all of the underground work in the area of the closure. Once the underground is completed, they will work on grading and placing aggregate in this area. The contractors will work on temporary pavement in the area of the closure to open the mainline to traffic again.

The contractors will begin working on installing new watermain between King Street and Kings Lynn Street.

Next week, the contractors will again be grading wherever they are able for the new roadway for the SB lanes. They will follow up grading as the underground work is completed to grade out for the new roadway and to place aggregates to get ready for the paving operations. This will likely occur in several different areas.

The contractors will resume working on the pedestrian underpass just north of Rutland Dunn Townline Road. They will finish pouring the walls of the box culver for this stage and then will be working on forming and pouring the top of the box culvert.

The contractors will continue to work on placing aggregate anywhere the grade has been completed and determined to be stable.

USH 51 is mostly open to through traffic in the work zones and will remain this way for most of the 2026 construction. There are a few short-term closures allowed for 2026 and there will be a signed detour in place for these. USH 51 will be closed to through traffic in the 2027 construction season. There is a signed detour in place for the 2027 construction season