Washburn’s Highway 13 is open again to traffic

Good news for residents and businesses in Washburn, Wisconsin, as road construction and repair is now completed, according to the City of Washburn Facebook page.

Work on WIS 13 (Bayfield Street) from Thompson Creek to 2nd Avenue West began in April, with Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) crews ripping out old pavement, replacing curbs, gutters and sidewalks. The project also included new water and sewer lines. WisDOT says the cost of the project was $8.32 million.

On Friday, November 15, the City of Washburn held a unofficial ribbon cutting for Bayfield Street. A post on Facebook said “With an unofficial ribbon cutting this morning, we are happy to have West Bayfield Street back in action.”

City officials had announced Thursday that West 8th Avenue had reopened to traffic.

Wisconsin Highway 13 is a thoroughfare through Washburn and local businesses stayed open during construction. WisDOT says drivers could still encounter lane closures during the week of Nov. 18 as crews finish work.

According to the City of Washburn website, this project was Phase 1 of the Bayfield Street Reconstruction Project. Phase 2 is scheduled for 2027.