Highway 113 Construction Notes

Construction is beginning in earnest this week on WIS 113 between WIS 78 and Mound Street in Baraboo, running right through the east side of Devil’s Lake State Park, so I reached out to the Wisconsin DOT to fill in some blanks for park visitors. Crews started Monday, July 13, and the project is expected to run into mid-October.

If you’re headed to the park, Parfrey’s Glen, Merrimac, or the ferry this summer or fall, let’s look at how you may be impacted.

What’s happening

WIS 113 has extensive cracking and needs new pavement along the whole stretch. At one spot — a horizontal curve about half a mile south of the County DL (west) intersection, near Tower Road — WisDOT is also rebuilding the curve itself to a safer radius, moving the highway about 18 feet to the southwest. (I hope they do something about that blind intersection with South Shore Road as well.) That work requires taking a small piece of park land: 0.239 acres becomes a permanent highway easement for ditches and culverts, with another 0.030 acres used temporarily during construction.

Where the full closure is

The curve reconstruction means a full closure of WIS 113 at that one location just south of County DL (west)/Tower Road, inside the park. That’s the only stretch that’s completely closed. Everywhere else within the project limits, WIS 113 stays open to local traffic, but reduced to one lane in each direction with flaggers and lane closures. Some driveways along the route will see temporary closures; WisDOT is contacting affected homeowners and businesses directly before that happens. One lane, flaggers, construction traffic… this is a good stretch to keep the phone down and stay focused on the road.

The detour

Through traffic gets routed around the closed curve via WIS 78 and US 12 to the west. Coming from Baraboo and heading toward Merrimac, that means: US 12 south, then WIS 78 east, rejoining WIS 113 south of the closure near Merrimac. Budget extra time — you’re adding miles, and there’s flagging on the rest of the route too. Locals also know a few rural back roads over the bluff that get around the closure, though those aren’t official detour routes and won’t be marked.

Getting into the park itself

The good news: the closure doesn’t sit on top of either park entrance.

The North Shore entrance — Visitor Center, Nature Center, Chateau, the beach, and the Quartzite, Northern Lights, and Ice Age campgrounds — is reached via WIS 113 to County Highway DL, and that intersection sits north of the closure point. If you’re coming from Baraboo, you shouldn’t be impacted. If you’re approaching from the ferry or WIS 78 to the south, you’ll need the detour to get up to the north shore.

The South Shore entrance, off South Lake Road: WisDOT confirmed that from the Parfrey’s Glen side (County DL), the traveling public will be able to access South Lake Road and the south shore. Expect delays depending on what’s actively under construction that day.

Ice Age Trail and Roznos Meadow parking

Both stay open through construction. The Ice Age Trail parking area on top of the bluff remains accessible to the public — WisDOT has been coordinating directly with the Ice Age Trail Alliance, who’ll post updates on their own site as well. And per WisDOT, the Roznos Meadow parking area stays reachable from the Parfrey’s Glen (County DL) side, same as South Lake Road to the south shore. Same caveat applies: delays are possible depending on active construction.

Getting to Parfrey’s Glen

Here’s a route that skips the closure entirely if you’re coming from the Merrimac/US 12 side: from the intersection of WIS 78 and 113 in Merrimac, go west on WIS 113 for about a tenth of a mile, then north on Baraboo Street (Bluff Road) for 2.5 miles to County Highway DL, then west 0.3 miles to the parking area. None of that touches the closed curve.

If you’re coming from Baraboo, the more familiar route — south on WIS 113, then east on County Highway DL — should still work, since that DL intersection is north of the closure. Same caveat as above: worth a quick check before you commit if you’re coming from unfamiliar territory.

A Wisconsin State Park vehicle sticker is required for the Parfrey’s Glen parking area, same as always.

Getting to Merrimac and the ferry

If you’re coming from Baraboo, use the detour: US 12 south to WIS 78 east, rejoining WIS 113 near Merrimac. If you’re coming from the Wisconsin Dells, Portage, or US 12/78 side, you’re approaching from the open end of WIS 113 and shouldn’t need the detour at all — expect flagging and one lane once you’re on the project stretch.

For Cyclists

This stretch gets regular bike traffic as cyclists make their way around the park, and WisDOT’s plan accounts for it, to a point. There will still be no dedicated bike lane, but the shoulder is being widened in both directions, giving cyclists room to ride the roadway while vehicles stay in the driving lane. Worth knowing if you’re used to riding this route: expect a wider shoulder once the project wraps, not a separated lane.

Bottom line

Plan extra time, expect flaggers, and if you’re routing through Baraboo toward Merrimac, take the WIS 78/US 12 detour rather than WIS 113 straight through. The work is scheduled to wrap up around mid-October 2026.

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Sources: WisDOT WIS 113 project page, 511 WI project page, WMTV15 News, July 10, 2026, WisDOT detour exhibit and public involvement presentation (March 2023), and direct correspondence with WisDOT (Hannah, project contact).