Road construction, rain damage may affect holiday travelers

August 27, 2007

While many road construction projects are wrapping up for the season, others remain underway. Those projects combined with storm damage from the August 19 storms in western Wisconsin may require motorists to adjust their arrival times a bit when traveling during the Labor Day holiday.

“We had a good construction season this year and despite recent rains are completing projects on time,” the Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Project Development Director Don Miller said. “In addition to long-term projects, however, motorists traveling in southwestern Wisconsin will need to stay alert for roads that may have lane restrictions or may even be closed because of the recent rains.”

Among major highways that will have either lane or speed restrictions due to road construction are the Marquette Interchange in downtown Milwaukee, I-94 in western Waukesha County, US 41 north of Fond du Lac, and I-43 east of Beloit.

Road construction crews will end their operations by noon on Friday, August 31 and won’t resume work until 6 a.m. Tuesday, September 4, according to Miller. A complete list of work zones on main highways is available by calling 1-800/ROAD WIS (762-3947) or checking the WisDOT Web site at www.dot.wisconsin.gov. Then click on “road conditions,” then “work zones.”  For an updated list of roads affected by flooding, check http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/flood.htm 

Meanwhile, more than 300 law enforcement agencies across the state will continue their “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest” campaign through the Labor Day weekend. State Patrol Major Dan Lonsdorf says officers will have no tolerance for drivers who are impaired. He noted that last year, traffic crashes during the Memorial Day weekend claimed 9 lives. 

Lonsdorf said traffic is expected to be heaviest between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Friday, August 31 and again on Monday, September 3.

Some of the larger work zones that may affect travelers during the Labor Day holiday period include (numbers indicate position on attached map): 

1. Marquette Interchange in downtown Milwaukee. Various lane and ramp closures while interchange is reconstructed. See www.mchange.org for complete details.
2. I-43 at Moorland Road interchange, 1 mile. I-43 will have two lanes in each direction through the work zone. Moorland Road will have one lane open in each direction.
3. WIS 11 Burlington Bypass from WIS 83 to WIS 36/83, 11 miles. Construction of the bypass requires WIS 11 through-traffic to detour using WIS 75 and WIS 142. WIS 36/83 on the northeast side of the city is reduced to a single lane of traffic in each direction.
4. I-94 between Waukesha County T and the west Waukesha County line, 11.1 miles. Two lanes of traffic are available in each direction but the speed limit has been reduced to 55 mph through the work zone.
5. WIS 67 in Oconomowoc, 1 mile. Bridge reconstruction requires through traffic on WIS 67 to detour to the new Oconomowoc Bypass. Follow the signed detour route.
6. WIS 60 in Hartford, 1.1 miles; WIS 60 from Kettle Moraine Road to US 41/County C, 3.6 miles. Reconstruction of WIS 60 in Hartford requires detour via Dodge County Highways P and S, WIS 83 and North Wilson Avenue. Access is maintained to local businesses and residences. Maintenance between Kettle Moraine Road and US 41/County C will limit traffic to one lane in each direction.
7. US 41 between Fond du Lac County OO to WIS 26 at Oshkosh, 7.9 miles. Traffic will be open to two lanes in each direction through the work zone.
8. WIS 42 between Two Rivers and Two Creeks, 1 mile. The road is closed at the South Two Creeks crossing with a detour via Manitowoc County Highways V, B and BB.
9. WIS 441 in the Appleton area, 11.5 miles. Work reduces traffic to one lane in each direction in the work zone.
10. WIS 22 northeast of Shawano, 1 mile. WIS 22 is closed for bridge repair. Detour via Shawano County highway R, and Oconto County highways V V, V, and U.
11. WIS 64 west of US 141, .5 mile. WIS 64 west of US 141 is closed with a detour via Marinette County Highway B and Oconto County Z.
12. I-43 from WIS 140 at Clinton to the east Rock County line, 5.2 miles. Pavement replacement limits traffic to one lane in each direction.
13. WIS 44 in Kingston between Vine Street and Green Lake County B North, 1 mile. Repairs have closed WIS 44 to through traffic with detour via County X and WIS 73. The highway will be open to local traffic and to access local businesses.
14. WIS 73 in Plainfield, 1.9 miles. Reconstruction has closed WIS 73 between 5th Avenue and Waushara County BB. Traffic is detoured via I-39/US 51, County D and County BB. The detour route also has an 11-foot width restriction at County BB and WIS 73 for approximately one-quarter mile.
15. US 10 between Portage County J and Lake Road, 5.9 miles. Construction of new four-lane highway limits traffic to one lane in each direction through the work zone.
16. I-39/US 51/WIS 29 through Wausau, 8 miles. Roadway and bridge reconstruction requires width restrictions but two lanes will remain open in each direction. Detailed information is available at www.5129wausau.com.
17. WIS 64 between Oregon and Foster streets and from State Street to Grand Avenue in Merrill, 1 mile. Also, WIS 64 from Memorial Drive to WIS 17. Roadwork closes WIS 64 to through traffic with a detour via WIS 107, Lincoln County FF and County K. The road will be open to local traffic and to access local businesses. Between Memorial Drive and WIS 17, traffic will be shifted to the westbound lanes of WIS 64 with one lane in each direction.
18. US 18 between Dodgeville and Montfort, 17 miles.  Pavement rehabilitation and addition of passing lanes. 
19. US 61 from 4th St. to 18th St. in Fennimore, 1.1 miles.  Reconstruction of roadway has closed US 61 to through traffic with a detour via local streets and Grant County Highways F and E.
20. WIS 60 between Port Andrew and the west Richland County line, 3.6 miles. Flood damage to newly reconstructed roadway has closed the highway requiring a detour via US 61, WIS 133, and Grant County T.
21. WIS 33 between La Crosse County F and WIS 162, 7.5 miles. Roadway reconstruction has closed the highway with a detour via US 14/61 and WIS 162. 
22. WIS 95 between Jackson County A and K, 10.4 miles. Highway is closed requiring detour via I-94, US 12/WIS 27 and US 10.
23. US 12/Clairemont Ave in Eau Claire, .4 mile. Reconstruction of the southbound Business 53/Hastings Way and ramps at US 12/Clairemont Avenue interchange. US 12 is open to two lanes in each direction. The northbound Business 53 ramp to US 12 is closed.
24. US 53 between Tilden and New Auburn, 16 miles. Traffic is open to one lane in each direction.
25. WIS 25 between Ridgeland and Barron, 13.3 miles. WIS 25 is closed for repairs with traffic detoured via Barron County A, County U, County O and US 8.
26. WIS 35 at Riverside in Burnett County, 0.1 mile. Bridge replacement has reduced traffic to one lane with traffic controlled by signals. There’s an 11-foot width restriction over the bridge.
27. WIS 27 south of Brule, 3.2 miles. Highway is closed for reconditioning with detour via Bayfield County highways N and A and US 2.

For more information, contact:

Don Miller, director, Bureau of Project Development
(608) 266-3707, donald.miller@dot.state.wi.us

Major Dan Lonsdorf, director, Bureau of Transportation Safety
(608) 266-3048, daniel.Lonsdorf@dot.state.wi.us