Highway 164 in Richfield is now open
Traffic flow, safety work completed
By Ian Bergersen
Special to Conley Media
RICHFIELD — Highway 164 is now officially open and features new safety improvements and traffic flow upgrades.
“WisDOT would like to thank the Richfield area community for their patience and cooperation,” Wisconsin Department of Transportation Project Manager Kurt Flierl said in the final report.
The approximately 7.5 miles of roadway from County Highway E to County Line Road was upgraded with new designated turn and bypass lanes, and a new roundabout was built at the intersection of Highway 164 and Holy Hill Road to help improve traffic flow. Several hills along the highway were flattened to enhance visibility for motorists.
Over 625,000 cubic yards of earth was excavated and 160,000 tons of construction aggregate was crushed during the project. More than 65,000 tons of asphalt pavement was placed over the highway.
The project was completed on time by WisDOT despite delays due to weather. During construction, WisDOT coordinated with the State Highway Patrol and the Washington County Sheriff’s Department and added extra police patrols to monitor the increased traffic through the village.
“The Wisconsin DOT (Wis-DOT) did an outstanding job communicating with all entities and organizations,” Richfield Village Administrator Jim Healy said in an email. “Weekly meetings were one of the strongest communication tools this WisDOT team utilized to let stakeholders know what progress has been made, what items may need troubleshooting and three-week look ahead plans.”
Work yet to be completed includes permanent electrical connections for the lights at intersections and the roundabout, as well as restoration to ditches and side slopes. Work is scheduled for spring for reseeding and soil restoration.