WisDOT awards big and small projects for 2024

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Projects in Outagamie, La Crosse and Milwaukee counties were under the spotlight this past year for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation‘s Excellence in Construction Awards.

WisDOT awarded five Wisconsin construction companies from the department’s Division of Transportation System Development recognizing projects that showed excellence in paving, grading, small structures and large structure projects. Officials handed out awards last week at the WisDOT Contractor-Engineer Conference in Wisconsin Dells.

“Last year, we made significant upgrades to strengthen our transportation network across Wisconsin,” said Kristina Boardman, secretary of WisDOT. “With 380 improvement projects last year reaching all corners of the state, these awards exemplify the hard work and dedication by our teams and industry partners. Together we are enhancing safety, mobility and make lasting quality of life benefits for everyone,” she added.

Here were the projects WisDOT awarded.

• Excellence in Asphalt Paving – Greenville-based Northeast Asphalt was awarded for work on Wisconsin Highway 54 between Seymour and Oneida in Outagamie County, WisDOT officials said. The project reconstructed two urban intersections with roundabouts on WIS 54 near Seymour. Crews resurfaced more than six miles of highway, which includes wider paved shoulders. The department recognized the paving crews efficiency which brought the project to finish more than three weeks ahead of schedule.
• Excellence in Concrete Paving – Chippewa Falls-based Chippewa Concrete Services was recognized for work on U.S. Highway 14/61, also known as South Avenue, between Green Bay and Ward Avenue in La Crosse. The project fully reconstructed more than one mile of heavily traveled corridor with more than 50 homes and 30 businesses adjacent to the highway. The contractor was engaged, flexible and efficient with its time throughout the project, officials said.
• Excellence in Grading – Princeton-based Mashuda Contractors, Inc. were awarded for work on the Wisconsin Highway 15 expansion between Greenville and Hortonville in Outagamie County. The project expanded nearly three miles of WIS 15 from two to four lanes. The project also encountered many different soil types and endured more than 41 inches of rain during the construction season. WisDOT officials said the contractor’s dedication to planning, scheduling and partnering with WisDOT resulted in a project completed on time and under budget.
• Excellence in Small Structures – Custer-based Sheet Piling Services was awarded for the West Division Street bridge over the West Branch of the Fond du Lac River in Fond du Lac County. The project replaced a deteriorated single-span bridge and featured new sidewalks, a raised median and steel railing. The bridge is located near a rail line that sees more than 45 trains per day, which raised unique challenges for the contractor and project team. But the contractor was diligent in its planning and building the new bridge, officials said.
• Excellence in Large Structures – Waukesha-based Zenith Tech Inc. received the award for the Interstate 43 southbound on ramp from the Hampton Avenue bridge over the Milwaukee River in Milwaukee County. The project replaced an existing on-ramp bridge with a new three-span structure which serves Whitefish Bay and Milwaukee. Open communication with all stakeholders was instrumental in keeping the project moving forward and cooperation resulted in a project finished on time and on budget, officials said.
• Large Contract – In addition to the large structure award, Zenith Tech also took home the award for work on the I-43 corridor from Capitol Drive to north of Hampton Avenue in Milwaukee County. The project expanded the interstate in each direction and included six new bridges, eight retaining walls, four noise barriers, a pedestrian box culvert and six sign structures. The project happened over multiple construction seasons and needed careful management of traffic patterns. WisDOT’s project team overcame many challenges by partnering with Zenith Tech to find cost-effective solutions that kept work progressing at a low cost. Officials said thorough collaboration resulted in an impressive project.