WisDOT: Highway 32’s upcoming project

NORTHEAST WIS. – The Wisconsin Department of Transportation held a Virtual Public Involvement meeting on Nov. 13 to discuss its upcoming plans regarding Highway 32, a 325.7-mile stretch of road located on Wisconsin’s east side.

Kurt Vogel, the D.O.T project manager handling state highway projects in the Oconto and Marinette Counties, started off the meeting with a brief overview, mentioning the project limits and introducing the project team. Jessica Lewis, a team member and consultant with Corre Engineering, walked through a brief presentation based on the expected future schedule and actions. She stated the project consists of an estimated 7.9-mile section, spanning from the Town of Lakewood to Carter in Oconto County and going through Townsend.

The primary concern WisDOT hopes to address is the overall safety of drivers due to the worsening pavement conditions and roadway drainage. Lewis highlighted the need for these updates, pointing out the current asphalt cracks, corroding and blocked cross culverts and the guard rails, which are near deserved retirement. One proposed improvement involved milling off 2” of existing asphalt, then Cold in-place Recycling (CIR) 3” followed by paving over the new asphalt surface throughout the entire corridor.

Minor developments were brought up for specific sections, like from Lakewood to Bobcat Road and North of Towsend to the project end, which is the North County Line, just South of Carter. This includes lining the culverts, replacing guardrails and adding centerline rumble strips. The road will be paved new through Townsend, but matched into the existing curb and gutter along with spot and inlet repairs as needed.

Despite the many promised improvements, the project may still have some downsides. The highway happens to run through a segment of 4F resources, crossing the Nicolet State Trail occasionally, which interferes with the needed access for equipment during construction. This could temporarily limit the inputs to 4F resources.

Lewis stated that though the highway is expected to remain open, single-lane traffic with flaggers and short-term highway closures could still be possibly enforced. At the end of the meeting she revealed the project schedule, sharing that the preliminary design will stretch from the summer of 2023 to the summer of 2025, and beginning that summer as well, the real estate acquisition. The final design is anticipated from the Summer of 2025 to January of 2027, and construction starting in the Summer of 2028.

Mark Kantola, the project’s Regional Communication Manager, added the WisDOT’s “In This Together” website can be helpful to businesses impacted by construction. The website includes tips, checklists, and guides to help ensure the local businesses’ success, and can be accessed at https://wisconsindot.gov/pages/projects/in-together/default.aspx.