WisDOT posts Feb. 3 addendum for STH 47 in Menominee County, letting Feb. 10

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation posted addendum and letting materials on Feb. 3 for projects on State Trunk Highway 47 in Menominee County, with the formal letting scheduled Feb. 10. The work covers culvert replacement and pavement and bridge work along STH 47 and is organized under proposal numbers 9650-17-61 and 9650-17-70.

The project calls for multiple types of work across a corridor broken into staged sequences. The plans state, "Construct STH 47 in six stages." Specific station-based tasks include: "Install cross pipe at Station 139+66. Temporary gravel widening will be required to construct this culvert." The contract language also directs concrete overlay and railing repair on the bridge between STH 55 and CTH VV (north), and Stage 2B will "Construct beam guard for northbound STH 47 between STH 55 and CTH VV (north)."

Traffic staging and public access are central to local impacts. The plans require maintaining "STH 47 with 11-foot minimum lane width at all times except as noted hereinafter" and direct contractors to "Maintain access to Dodge Road, Tribal Office Loop Road (south), and Tribal Office Loop Road (north) at all times. Morrin Street and Brooks Lane will need to be closed; however, they will not be allowed to be closed at the same time." For school traffic the documents instruct contractors to "Construct main entrance to Menominee Indian High School at Station 102+80 LT half at a time to allow access for bus/vehicle traffic." During work the specifications prohibit many turn movements: "All right-turns from the east side streets and all left-turns from the west side streets will be prohibited during construction." Southbound traffic will be held on STH 47 and "Maintain southbound STH 47 traffic on gravel during the work week and unmilled asphalt during the weekend." Plans also call for a northbound detour routing: "Detour northbound local traffic from Duquaine Rd to CTH VV (south) on Go Around Road. Detour" (text truncated in the addendum).

The contract text highlights community and cultural protections. It lists "4(f) and 6(f) Properties" including Menominee Indian High School, Keshena Primary School, Menominee Nation Early Childhood, and Menominee Indians Veterans Memorial Park, and requires contractors to "Restore all disturbed areas. Excavation and temporary easements along the Menominee Indians Veterans Memorial Park should not infringe on the tree driplines along STH 47."

Administrative rules in the addendum set bidder obligations and start-date procedures. WisDOT specifies that "Addenda can ONLY be obtained from the department’s web site listed above or by picking up the addenda at the Bureau of Highway Construction, 4th floor, 4822 Madison Yards Way, Madison, WI, during regular business hours." Contractors are warned that "(7) Addenda posted after 5:00 PM on the Thursday before the letting will be emailed to the eligible bidders for that proposal. All eligible bidders shall acknowledge receipt of the addenda whether they are bidding on the proposal or not. Not acknowledging receipt may jeopardize the awarding of the project." The department also sets timing expectations: "The Notice to Proceed will be issued such that work shall start no later than April 1, 2026, unless otherwise approved by the engineer."

For residents and contractors, the addendum contains truncated passages and map details that should be reviewed in full. Bidders and community members should obtain the complete addenda and plans at the Bureau of Highway Construction or by contacting WisDOT at (608) 266-1631 to confirm detour maps, erosion-control requirements, and final sequencing. Expect staged construction into spring with school access and park protections prioritized; watch for final contract award after the Feb. 10 letting and a Notice to Proceed that will set the official start date.