Less Labor for Labor Day Travelers

September 1, 2009

Many work zones will be open; Troopers will be watching for speeders, drunk drivers

Wisconsin’s highway construction workers will be enjoying the fruits of their labor this Labor Day holiday weekend as they park their equipment and roll back the orange barrels.  Many highway work zones will have fewer lane restrictions during the Labor Day weekend, giving travelers easier access to their favorite vacation spot for the last weekend holiday of summer.

“This time of year we’re starting to wrap up many highway construction projects,” Don Greuel of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Project Development said.  “As we do so, we can open up highways and lanes that have been closed for much of the summer.  Travelers will still see orange barrels, lane shifts, and other signs of road improvement projects at several locations across the state and they should be prepared for slower traffic where lanes are restricted or pavement is rough.  Those are locations where congestion may occur due to the heavier-than-normal traffic volumes we expect this weekend.”

Greuel noted that most construction work will cease as of noon on Friday, September 4 and won’t resume again until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8.

While motorists will have mostly open roads for their journey, they’ll need to watch their speeds and avoid drinking and driving.  More than 300 law enforcement agencies will continue their “Drunk Driving.  Over the Limit.  Under Arrest” anti-drunk driving campaign through the Labor Day weekend.

“We want everyone to return home safely and will have all available troopers on duty during the three-day holiday,” said the Bureau of Transportation Safety’s Major Dan Lonsdorf.  “If we find that you are speeding, driving while impaired or otherwise driving irresponsibly, we’ll take the appropriate enforcement action.”

Lonsdorf noted peak travel times are expected to be between noon and 8 p.m. on Friday, September 4 and Monday, Labor Day, September 7.

Some of the remaining highway construction projects that may affect holiday travelers include (see map):

1. I-94 from the Illinois state line to the I-94/894/43 (Mitchell) Interchange.  In Kenosha County, south of WIS 50, one lane will be closed with two lanes open in each direction.  At County G in Racine County, one lane will be closed with two lanes open in each direction.  Additionally, ramp closures include I-894/I-43 west bound ramps at S. 27th Street in Milwaukee; and I-94 at College Avenue, Kenosha County E, WIS 158, Kenosha County C and Racine County G.
2. I-94 at Calhoun Road, Waukesha County, 0.5 mile.  Bridge work requires reduced speeds and shoulder closures.
3. I-43 from Beloit to WIS 140, 6.5 miles.  Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction.
4. WIS 50 at Kenosha County B, 0.4 mile.  Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction.
5. Burlington Bypass, 5.2 miles.  Construction of new bypass requires detours for WIS 36 and Racine County P traffic.  WIS 36 is detoured via WIS 120 and WIS 11; County P via Market Street, WIS 83 and WIS 50.  WIS 11 is detoured via WIS 83 and WIS 142.
6. US 12 between Walworth County H and the intersection of US 12/WIS 20/WIS 67, 2 miles.  Through traffic is detoured via Walworth County Highways A and H due to resurfacing of the highway.
7. US 41 between US 45 and Winnebago County Y, 2 miles.  Two lanes open but shoulders are closed through work zone.
8. US 151 from Fond du Lac County WH to the north Fond du Lac County line, 9 miles.  Pavement and bridge work requires detour via County Highways WH and G.
9. WIS 67 between WIS 32/WIS 57 and Manitowoc County AA, 1 mile.  Road improvements require detour via WIS 32/57 and Fremont Street in Kiel.
10. US 10 at WIS 55, 0.3 mile.  Reconstruction closes intersection.  US 10 detour follows WIS 114 and WIS 32/57.  WIS 55 detour follows WIS 114, Calumet County N and Winnebago County CE.
11. WIS 54 between Wood County GG and WIS 80, 7 miles.  Bridge replacements have closed highway with detour via WIS 73, WIS 173, and WIS 80.
12. WIS 153 bridges at Mosinee, 0.5 mile.  Bridge repairs limit lanes to 10-foot widths.
13. WIS 13 in Colby, 1 mile.  One lane open in each direction with traffic shifted to one side of the median and a 10-foot width restriction.
14. WIS 70 west of Minocqua, 1 mile.  Bridge construction.  Motorists can expect single lane closures and temporary traffic signals at the bridges.
15. US 45 from Vilas County K to the Michigan state line, 7 miles.  Box culvert replacement reduces traffic to one lane with a traffic signal controlling traffic.
16. WIS 17 from Phelps to Vilas County A, 2 miles.  Highway is closed for reconstruction with traffic detoured via US 45/WIS 32 and Vilas County E.
17. I-90 from US 12 to the I-90/94 interchange, 1 mile.  Bridge replacement reduces traffic to one lane in each direction.
18. I-90 from La Crosse County C in West Salem to the eastern La Crosse County line, 7.5 miles.  Pavement and bridge work reduces traffic to one lane in each direction on the eastbound side of the median.  Speed reduced to 55 mph.
19. US 8 just west of US 53, 1 mile.  Bridge repairs closed highway with detour via Barron County Highway W.

For more information, contact:
Don Greuel, Bureau of Project Development
(608) 516-1793, donald.greuel@dot.wi.gov

Major Dan Lonsdorf, Bureau of Transportation Safety
(608) 266-3048, daniel.lonsdorf@dot.wi.gov