MANITOWOC CO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – New asphalt and concrete are not the only upgrades underway on Interstate-43 in Manitowoc and Brown counties.
As part of a nearly $24 million project, more than 15 miles of the interstate were resurfaced last year from Wisconsin 310 in Manitowoc County to Wisconsin 96 in Brown County, but it’s not the only work going on.
You won’t find orange construction barrels on I-43 in Manitowoc County this spring. But if you’re traveling southbound and you look to the west off the highway, you may notice the five miles of black weed barrier that’s been laid out.
It’s all part of the $23.97 million highway resurfacing project that also includes the planting of a living snow fence.
According to WisDOT Project Manager Brian Haen, “When it grows up, it will be a barrier. What that barrier does is, it slows down the snow and traps it, and it makes a drift before it gets onto the highway.”
Crews are planting about 25,000 shrubs — three different varieties — along five miles of the interstate.
The living snow fence is going in on the west side of the highway because that’s the direction snowstorms, and their winds, usually come in from during the winter.
By planting the snow fence, this stretch of roadway, which has seen its fair share of winter weather related incidents, will become safer.
“It keeps the snow off the road,” adds Haen. “Obviously, the plows aren’t out there all of the time, and it reduces the amount of accidents that happen out on the highway. When you get into the rural sections of I-43, the wind can really get going and blow a lot of snow across the road.”
The living snow fence, which will cost about $700,000 to put in and maintain, is actually a cost saver too.
“There’s studies; it’s 100 times cheaper to plant trees than it is to plow the snow,” says Haen.
While the living snow fences will be a benefit for drivers and will help to reduce the number of crashes on the highway during a storm, they’re also good for the environment.
“It’s environmentally friendly for various butterflies, pollinators, bees things of that nature,” adds Haen. “And then it also helps with soil erosion.”
The DOT estimates it will take about three to four years for the plants to mature and be fully effective.
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