Wis. Stat. § 83.19
When any highway which is maintained or to be maintained by the county shall be practically impassable or be dangerous to travel or when it shall be deemed necessary on account of construction or repair work thereon or for other reasons to suspend travel upon any part of such highway, the county highway commissioner may lay out and open temporary highways for the accommodation of public travel through any lands, and the county highway commissioner shall possess the powers conferred by s. 82.35 upon town boards. Said powers shall be exercised by the county highway commissioner in like manner and the procedure shall be the same except that the contract and orders and claim for damages and other papers relating to the matter shall be filed with the county clerk, and claims for damages shall be acted upon by the county board in the manner provided by s. 893.80.
Wis. Stat. § 83.19
2003 Wis. Act 214, which affected this section, contains extensive explanatory notes.