Thanksgiving travelers will see fewer construction projects

November 19, 2009

Heading to Grandma’s house or a favorite deer hunting spot should be a little easier this time of year, barring an early season bout with bad weather.  Most road construction projects have wrapped up for the year, although the Wisconsin Department of Transportation says there are still a few long-term projects that may affect travels.

“We’re pulling back the orange barrels to make way for orange parkas,” said the Bureau of Project Development’s Don Greuel.  “While we’re finishing up on many of our projects, some work may still be underway in the days before Thanksgiving, so deer hunters heading up in the days before the holiday may have to watch for an occasional road project.”

Greuel said the project that may have the largest impact on travel is northbound I-94 from the Illinois state line to WIS 50, which will only have two lanes open.  Meanwhile, a multi-year project to expand Highway 41 to four lanes between Green Bay and Marinette is now complete.  That means Highway 41 is now four lanes from the Illinois border to the Upper Peninsula.

Motorists can get the latest lane closure, traffic incident, and road condition information by dialing 511 or going to www.511wi.gov. 

Law enforcement agencies across the state will be out in force throughout the deer hunting and holiday period watching for speeders, drunken drivers, and enforcing the state’s safety belt law.  State safety officials note that nine people were killed during the Thanksgiving holiday period last year, down five from the five-year average of 14.

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