Crews are working to widen a 3.5-mile segment of State Road 77, between Rogers Road and Cane Mill Road, in Wausau. Construction activities during the month of February included excavation, pile driving for a new low-level bridge, and stormwater runoff prevention efforts.
In photo one, crews are using heavy equipment to excavate on the south end of the project near Rodgers Road. The excavation work is needed to level the grade for the future roadway.
In photo two, you can see pile driving efforts underway for constructing a new bridge that will cross Reedy Creek. Note the spray-painted numbers on the side of the piles in photo three. These numbers help crews track the depth of piles as they are driven. These are steel pipe piles that measure 24-inches in diameter and are approximately 200-feet-long. A total of 16 piles are needed to support the new travel lanes across Reedy Creek.
In addition, there will be another bridge needed near Finch Circle that will require driving 12 concrete piles. Driving piles is a precise and exacting process that involves a crane operator lifting and placing the pile into a template where it is then driven by an air hammer.
In photo three, a turbidity fence (the yellow device) is shown protecting a wetlands area adjacent to S.R. 77 travel lanes. The fences form a barrier that contains soil and sediment-laden stormwater runoff. The fence allows the sediment to settle instead of contaminating nearby ponds, streams, or other waterways.
Upon completion of the project, the segment of S.R. 77 through the Town of Wausau will feature four travel lanes, new sidewalks, and bicycle lanes. Widening this segment will also complete the four-laning of this vital north-south route all the way from the U.S. (Business) Highway 98 intersection in Panama City to north of I-10 in Chipley, a total of approximately 45 miles. This project’s anticipated completion date is mid-2027.
A reminder that the speed limit on S.R. 77 is reduced to 45 mph to accommodate construction activities. Please be alert for construction workers, vehicles, and equipment.
