Office Information
Wood County Highway Department
Wood County Highway Department (
Map)
Commissioner: Roland Hawk
Regular Hours (September-April):
7:00am - 3:00pm M-F
Summer Hours (May-August):
6:00am - 4:00pm M-Th
Phone: 715-421-8875
Fax: 715-421-8874
Mission Statement
The mission of the Wood County Highway Department is to construct and maintain 324
miles of the county trunk highway system, along with maintaining the state trunk
highway system in Wood County on a contract basis for the State of Wisconsin. Additionally,
the department provides road and bridge maintenance services to local governmental
units upon request on a cost charge back basis. To accomplish this work, the department
is responsible for the purchase and repair of all necessary equipment, as well as
maintenance of an administrative staff for all accounting and ordering of equipment
and supplies. Our goal is to provide for safe, convenient movement of the traveling
public.
Did You Know?
- The Wood County Highway
Department imposes seasonal weight restrictions on most county trunk highways during
the spring thaw.
The seasonal weight restrictions typically occur from mid-March to around the end
of April. Limits are six tons per single axle and ten tons per tandem axle.
For more information, visit the Seasonal
Weight Restrictions page.
- State Statute 346.41
(3) is in reference to "Blue Driveway Delineators".
This law prohibits the display of red or amber (yellow) reflectors within right-of-way
at or near private roads or driveways, but permits the use of blue reflectors for
such purposes. The color of blue reflectors acceptable for use on all highway right-of-way
may be described as a clear blue having no greenish or purplish appearance in the
daytime or when reflecting white light from automobile headlights at night. The
shade should be not so bright as to appear white at night. The use of more than
two sets of delineators on the highway right-of-way to mark an entrance to a private
road or driveway does not appear necessary and will not be permitted. By two sets,
we mean two reflectors that would be visible to traffic from each direction; presumably
one on either side of the private driveway. Ideally, these reflectors should be
set approximately at the ditch line well beyond the shoulder line.
- The Wood County Highway
Department occasionally sells surplus items on the Wisconsin Surplus auction site.
See what's currently for sale at www.wisconsinsurplus.com.
- It is unlawful to
follow a snowplow closer than 200 feet.
It's illegal (State Statute 346.915) to follow a snowplow closer than 200 feet upon
any highway having the posted speed limit of more than 35 mph if the snowplow is
engaged in snow and ice removal. The majority of crashes involving snowplows and
vehicles happen when a snowplow is rear ended or hit while being passed. Snowplows
have wing plow blades that can extend anywhere between 2 and 10 feet beyond the
width of the truck. This wing plow blade is often not seen because of the snow cloud
being kicked up by the snowplow. These wing plows can often weigh as much as a compact
car.
- It is unlawful to
push snow or other materials onto or across roadways.
It can cause accidents and/or death and is strictly prohibited under Wisconsin Statues
86.01 and/or 346.94(5). Anyone who does not comply will be held responsible for
all penalties and liabilities.
Highway Department Program Description
The Highway Department fulfills its responsibilities to maintain the safety and convenience of the county and state trunk highway systems by performing both general and
winter maintenance. General maintenance includes the following: patching, crack filling and sealcoating of pavement, shoulder maintenance, and vegetation control, bridge
and culvert maintenance, litter and trash pickup, guardrail installation and repair, signing, pavement marking and traffic control. Winter maintenance includes
installation and removal of snow fence, application of sand and salt, plowing and shoveling snow off bridges.
Additionally, the department also provides road construction along with pavement resurfacing (blacktopping), bridge and culvert installation. To effectively accomplish
these activities, the department maintains two (2) storage and maintenance facilities at various locations. The main shop is in Wisconsin Rapids with an outlying shops in Marshfield.
See Also - State of Wisconsin
- WisDOT Website
www.dot.wisconsin.gov
- State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation Regional Office
1681 Second Avenue South
Wisconsin Rapids WI 54495
Phone: (715) 421-8301
- Department of Motor Vehicle Licensing
1681 Second Avenue South
Wisconsin Rapids WI 54495
Phone: (608) 264-7447