Roadwork ahead

NEW LONDON – The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) will host a public information meeting on Monday, March 16, to discuss two major construction projects scheduled to begin this spring on US 45 and WIS 54.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the New London Municipal Building Council Chambers, 215 North Shawano St. A brief presentation is scheduled for 6 p.m., followed by an open-house session where project staff will be available to discuss specific details, staging, and traffic impacts.

Project scope and improvements
The North Central Region office confirmed that both the US 45 and WIS 54 projects will be constructed concurrently, with work beginning as early as March 23. The anticipated completion date for both is mid-November 2026.

US 45 (Givens Road to Church Road)

•Pavement Replacement: Crews will remove all existing pavement and install 7 to 7.5 inches of new asphalt.
•New Roundabout: A new roundabout will be constructed at the intersection of US 45 and County D in New London.
•Safety Upgrades: Improvements include new centerline rumble strips, guardrail replacement, and repairs to 16 culvert pipes.

WIS 54 (W. Jeanne Street to County S)
Roadway Reconfiguration: Between County D and County S, WIS 54 will be converted to a two-lane configuration with a 4-foot median shoulder and 8-foot outside shoulders to address existing lane-drop concerns.

•Infrastructure Repairs: The project includes replacing the traffic signals and reconstructing ADA-compliant sidewalk curb ramps at the County D/North Shawano Street intersection.
•Bridge Work: Crews will construct approach slabs and restore the roadway profile at the Embarrass River bridge.

Traffic impacts and detours
Travelers in the New London area should prepare for significant traffic shifts starting in mid-March:
US 45 Closure: US 45 will be closed to through traffic and detoured via US 10 and WIS 22 from mid-March through July 2026. Access for residents, businesses, and emergency vehicles will be maintained.

•WIS 54 Access: WIS 54 will remain open with one lane in each direction. Temporary widening will be constructed to allow the roadway to be built one half at a time.
•Intersection Closures: The north and south legs of the County D/North Shawano Street intersection will each face a one-month closure for construction. This work is scheduled to begin only after US 45 has reopened.

Resident and business information
WisDOT notes that mailboxes may be temporarily removed during grading; residents should coordinate with their local post office for delivery arrangements. Additionally, the “In This Together” program is available to help local business owners navigate access issues during the construction period.
For ongoing updates, residents can visit the project website at projects.511wi.gov/region/north-central/ or follow @WisDOTNorthCent on X (formerly Twitter).