Road work coming to Rhinelander: Lincoln Street project underway

Orange season is upon us and the City of Rhinelander is advising motorists to prepare for significant traffic changes in the coming months as a Wisconsin Department of Transportation project brings major construction to the US Highway 8 corridor. According to a city press release, the project will reconstruct two intersections as roundabouts and mill and overlay a third, with a full highway closure and detour planned beginning April 27.
Before the main highway closure begins, crews will prepare the detour route. Starting this week, Lincoln Street will undergo milling and overlay work in two segments: from the Oneida Street intersection to Evergreen Street, and from Eisenhower Parkway to the North Highway 17 bypass.
During this work, traffic on Lincoln Street will be reduced to one lane in each direction, with temporary signals in place to manage the flow. The city is urging motorists to slow down and use caution around construction workers and flaggers. The Lincoln Street work is expected to wrap up by April 24, weather permitting.
Beginning April 27, US Highway 8 will be fully closed from west of the Germond Road intersection to west of the WIS 17 South/WD Boyce Drive intersection. The closure is expected to remain in place throughout the summer.
Drivers will be detoured along WIS 17 North, Lincoln Street, South Courtney Street, Pelham Street, Arbutus Street, and Kemp Street. Temporary pavement will be installed at the WIS 17 South/WD Boyce Drive and County G intersections to allow access to and from the detour route. Temporary signals will also be placed at the County G intersection to keep through traffic moving.
The project’s centerpiece is the reconstruction of two US Highway 8 intersections — at WIS 17 South/WD Boyce Drive and at County G — as single-lane roundabouts. A third intersection, at WIS 17 North/Germond Road, will receive a mill-and-overlay treatment rather than a full reconstruction.
The project is managed by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Residents with questions are encouraged to contact WI DOT Project Manager Michelle Guoin at 715-365-5792. Construction updates are available at the WI DOT 511 road construction website: https://projects.511wi.gov/us8rhinelander/