A new level of detail for the expansion of Hwy. 8 to four lanes was presented by the state Department of Transportation on Thursday at the Barron Area Community Center. The meeting focused on a 12-mile corridor from the Hay River to Hwy. 53. The Hay River crosses Hwy. 8 between Almena and Poskin.

Under the plan, almost all of the new Hwy. 8 will be on a new alignment. The new corridor bypasses Barron by going to the south.

The presentation included information on three interchanges. They were at Hwy. 25 south of Barron; at County Hwy. F west of Poskin; and near Hwys. O and W southeast of Barron. Also presented were variations of those proposals and of overpasses and roads that would end at the new highway.

Mark Bowker of the DOT, who led the meeting, said there were only three interchanges because highway planners prefer to have at least 3 miles between interchanges.

About 50 people attended the meeting. They were asked to submit their preferences and comments for the proposed options, with the preferred options to be selected in January.

Another final public hearing is scheduled in August 2011.

Thomas Beekman of the DOT said he didn't know when, or if, the project would be funded. He said it will likely be built in increments. He said there is statewide competition for project funding but that a plan had to first be finalized to have a chance at funding.

Expansion of Hwy. 8 to four lanes from St. Croix Falls to Cameron has been in the works for over a decade. The majority of Hwy. 8 is a two-lane rural road, although passing lanes have been added at various locations. Planned are bypasses around some communities, with the initial work being done on the areas with the most need.

The first phases of the expansion are expected at Barron and at Deer Lake in Polk County.

Official mapping

Wednesday's meeting was a step toward drafting an official map that allows the DOT to preserve future rights of way. The map also informs and enables landowners, the public and local agencies to plan in ways that won't conflict with future highway improvements.

The official map is recorded on property deeds.

Official mapping does not involve purchasing property. If a person's property falls within the area shown on the official map, the DOT will send a formal letter to the property owner. The property owner then must notify the DOT 60 days in advance of any alteration to the property or any structure on the property within the right of way.

Upon receipt of the notification, the DOT will make a determination to either purchase the property or allow the alteration to occur. If the property is acquired at a later date, the owner will receive compensation for the alteration.

However, if a landowner makes any alteration to the property without notifying the DOT, they will not receive any compensation for that improvement if or when the DOT decides to purchase the property.

Planning ahead

Bowker said the expansion could be either a freeway or an expressway. A freeway has bridges. Expressways have at-grade crossings. But, said Beekman, expressways often have businesses develop at crossings, creating an increased potential for fatal crashes with high-speed traffic. He said intersections with that problem are on Hwy. 53 at Haugen and other locations.

The corridor under study on Wednesday was presented as a freeway with no at-grade crossings, although the corridor could eventually be an expressway rather than a freeway.

For more information about the project, contact Marc Bowker at WisDOT Northwest Region, 7102 Green Valley Road, Spooner, WI 54801, or at 715-635-4975 or "marc.bowker@dot.state.wi.us." or Ned Grady of Strand Associates at 910 West Wingra Drive, Madison, WI 53715, or 608-251-4843, or ned.grady@strand.com.

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