DOT stakes mark future sidewalk ramp project in Fond du Lac

If you’ve noticed a number of wooden stakes popping up along Main Street and Johnson Street in Fond du Lac, they are there for a future Wisconsin Department of Transportation project.

The stakes are being used to mark where the DOT may need additional right-of-way or temporary easements as part of a planned project to reconstruct sidewalk and curb ramps.

The DOT is currently in the process of acquiring the property rights it will need for the project. In some locations, the stakes could mark the future boundary of public right-of-way, while others could identify areas the DOT may temporarily need to use during construction.

Fond du Lac City Manager Joe Moore says the stakes are part of that right-of-way acquisition process and are tied to the planned reconstruction of sidewalk ramps in 2028.

The project is part of a larger DOT effort to bring curb ramps into compliance with current Americans with Disabilities Act standards. That could include replacing ramps that don’t meet current requirements for things such as slopes, landing areas and ramp geometry, as well as adding detectable warning surfaces.

The project covers portions of WIS 23, U.S. 151 and U.S. 45 in the Fond du Lac area, as well as portions of those highways in the towns of Taycheedah and Empire.

Not every curb ramp in the project area will necessarily be replaced.

And despite the stakes now appearing along some Fond du Lac streets, the project is still in the planning and property-acquisition phase. Construction is currently scheduled for 2028.

The DOT’s timeline calls for real estate negotiations to continue through the fall of 2027, with final plans expected in November of 2027.

When construction does begin, the highways are expected to remain open. There could be short-term lane closures near individual curb ramps, along with sidewalk closures and pedestrian detours. The DOT says it will try to minimize those detours by avoiding construction at adjacent intersections at the same time and may use temporary sidewalks and curb ramps to maintain pedestrian access.

Property owners and businesses within the project limits have been receiving information about the project and have been given an opportunity to provide comments.