Gateway to Northwoods Getaways Gets Welcome Safety Overhaul
Written by: Mark Petersen, PE, Ayres
Tourists whose Northwoods destination is Hayward or other points north may count the junction of USH 53 and USH 63 at Trego as a notable waypoint along their journey – one that they may have previously associated with delays and scary moments. The at-grade intersection that for decades got people where they were going left a great deal to be desired in terms of safety and convenience as traffic volumes increased. Especially for those whose trip back home required a left turn from westbound USH 63 onto southbound USH 53. The intersection made for long lines and white knuckles.
With the four-lane USH 53 serving tourists, residents, and plenty of commercial trucks carrying goods to and from Duluth-Superior and northern Minnesota, it became clear that a full-service interchange would bring major improvements for USH 63 traffic trying to transition into the 70+ mph traffic on USH 53.
WisDOT’s Northwest Region hired Ayres to upgrade the at-grade intersection to a full-service interchange to improve traffic flow and safety. It was not practical to fit the interchange into the existing intersection location, so the project ultimately involved rerouting USH 63 to intersect with USH 53 about a half-mile south of the existing intersection.
The project in Washburn County required the reconstruction of about 1 mile of USH 53 and the reconfiguration of several local roads around the interchange, including the realignment of CTH E and construction of new service roads parallel to USH 53.
What makes such an engineering endeavor go smoothly is extensive public outreach and governmental coordination. The complex project required residential and business relocations; access modifications; the excavation of contaminated soils; and impacts on wetlands, a railroad, and the Wild Rivers State Trail and other public lands. Designers added value to the project and accommodated businesses in many ways, including a snowmobile/ATV crossing near Mackey Road, a sidewalk on the northside of the bridge carrying USH 63 over USH 53, and a driveway to provide access to a local boat dealership and bar.
WisDOT designed the interchange bridge, the Wild Rivers trail overpass, and retaining walls, and Ayres incorporated the structure plans into the final plans, specifications, and estimates.
Innovation abounded on the project. Concrete silane sealer was used on saw cuts in the new concrete on USH 53, making the concrete less porous at the joints to avoid premature deterioration in the cold-weather climate. Turtle nesting habitat was established in the old roadbed of an abandoned portion of Lakeside Road near the Namekagon River. The undulating gravel nesting area was coordination with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and protective fencing could be placed around the nesting areas in the future to help improve the population of various turtle species in the river.
The result is a project that improves safety and sets the stage for Trego and its residents and wildlife to thrive.
About the Guest Blogger
Mark Petersen, PE, joined Ayres in 1999 as a transportation engineer and has been a project manager for more than 10 years. In addition to being a transportation supervisor, Mark’s primary responsibilities include project management, rural and urban highway design, report preparation, utility coordination, and agency coordination. Mark is proud of the efforts of Ayres and project partners EMCS and CBS Squared as they worked with local officials, agencies, residents, and business owners to meet the core needs of many stakeholders while taking advantage of opportunities recognized on the fly where the project could add even more value to the area.