A public hearing addressing making Hwy. 53 a freeway from 26th Avenue to 30th Avenue in Barron County is Wednesday, July 1 at 7 p.m. at the Haugen Elementary School. There is an open house at 6 p.m.

The hearing is required for the state Department of Transportation to adopt the official map of the planned improvements to convert Hwy. 53 from 26th Avenue to 30th Avenue to a freeway. Those improvements include a new Hwys. 53 and V interchange at Haugen. The official map shows the future right of way that would be necessary to construct the improvements.

Hwy. 53 is currently a freeway south of 26th Street. The state plans to extend Hwy. 53's freeway status to 30th Avenue, which is the Barron-Washburn county line.

The Hwy. 53 intersection at Haugen has had a high rate of severe injury and fatal crashes. In 2007, the state DOT announced that an improved at-grade interchange at Hwys. 53 and V at Haugen was the preferred alternative to deal with the high fatality rate there.

Estimated construction costs in 2007 were about $14 million for the entire project, which would include overpasses at 26th and 30th avenues.

Construction of the total project could take decades.

The official map enables landowners, the public and government agencies to plan in ways that won't conflict with the planned improvements.

The map, which is recorded on deeds, is also a step in enabling the project to compete for construction funding.

Official mapping does not involve buying 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 buy 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, a landowner who makes any alteration to the property without notifying the DOT will not receive any compensation for that improvement if or when the DOT decides to buy the property.

For more information about the project, contact Marc Bowker at WisDOT Northwest Region, 7102 Green Valley Road, Spooner, WI 54801 or at 225-9306 or "marc.bowker@dot.state.wi.us."