US 53 Corridor Study

What is a WisDOT Majors study?
Major highway development projects are generally the most complex, costly and potentially controversial projects initiated by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). They are long-term solutions to the most serious deficiencies on highly traveled sections of the highway system.
Before a Majors construction project can be enumerated, WisDOT conducts environmental and engineering studies, so that projects brought before the Transportation Project Commission (TPC) will have undergone evaluation; therefore, this ensures that only projects likely to be future major project candidates are considered for enumeration.

Why are we doing a study?
In fall 2025, the WisDOT identified nine corridors to be analyzed for safety, travel time and delay, business benefits and route connectivity. Two corridors in northwest Wisconsin – I-94 from WIS 65 in Roberts to US 63 in Baldwin and US 53 from County AA/Golf Road in Eau Claire to WIS 29 in Lake Hallie – were among the nine analyzed.
Based on this analysis, the US 53 corridor was recommended for study to the TPC. On Dec. 10, 2025, the TPC unanimously voted to advance the US 53 corridor for environmental study.
The US 53 corridor study is at the beginning of this process. To date, WisDOT’s Northwest Region (NWR) has received funding to do a study/evaluation of the US 53 corridor as approved by the TPC. The study will work through evaluating safety, traffic congestion and traffic operations along the corridor and interchanges through the NEPA process.

Study location
The study runs along US 53 from County AA/Golf Road in the city of Eau Claire to WIS 29 in the village of Lake Hallie. The corridor is nine miles long and contains eight interchanges. A map of the study location is included as an attachment in this outreach packet.

Public Involvement
As WisDOT progresses through the data gathering, as well as the alternative development, analysis and selection, there will be both local officials and public involvement meetings to gather input at each step. The first local officials meeting is planned to be held during the winter/spring of 2027.

Schedule of study
Currently, WisDOT only has approval to study the corridor; no future construction projects are funded. The study is anticipated to take up to four years to complete; WisDOT does not anticipate going back to the TPC until December 2030 to report results and, if recommended, request final design and construction funding.

TPC approval - December 2025
STIP/TIP approvals - Spring 2026
Consultant solicitations - Summer 2026
Consultant onboarding - Fall 2026
Study start - Fall 2026
First local official meeting - Winter/Spring 2027
Data gathering / Existing conditions - 2027
Traffic analysis - 2027/2028
Environmental document - 2029/2030
TPC Final Presentation - December 2030

* Public involvement opportunities will occur throughout the project timeline.