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Freeway service patrols

Freeway service patrols are dedicated to handling and clearing incidents. 

Patrols are responsible for:

• Assisting disabled motorists with specially equipped vehicles.
• Increasing freeway safety.
• Reducing congestion and gaper's blocks.

There are currently three types of patrols operating in Wisconsin:

• Dane County Beltline Service Patrols
• Milwaukee County Enhanced Freeway Patrols
• Racine, Kenosha and Waukesha County Gateway Patrols

Dane County Beltline Service Patrols

The Beltline Service Patrol operates on US 12/14/18/151, Madison's Beltline, between I-39/90 and Mineral Point Road in Dane County. The patrol is currently on duty Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The patrol is operated by the Dane County Sheriff's Office using a vehicle that is under contract with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. 

The Beltline Service Patrol began in December 2001. Since that time, it has reduced incident clearance time by 30 to 40 percent. Incident detection and verification times were also reduced. The patrol has received positive feedback from drivers and emergency respondents who feel the service has improved highway safety and drive time.

The Beltline Service Patrol responds to an average of 18 incidents per day and roughly 400 incidents per month. There are no fees charged to motorists for patrol services. 

The Beltline Service Patrol:

• Relocates disabled vehicles from the highway to safer areas where the motorist can contact a private towing service for further help.
• Provides small amounts of fuel.
• Handles minor repairs such as changing flat tires and taping hoses.
• Calls additional assistance to the scene of crashes.
• Removes debris from the freeway.
• Aids law enforcement officers and other responders in traffic control during incidents. 

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Milwaukee County Enhanced Freeway Patrols

Between 20,000 and 30,000 incidents occur annually on the Milwaukee County freeway system. That equals 70 to 100 incidents per day. Enhanced Freeway Patrols, operated by the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department, are a special fleet of four vehicles dedicated to handling and clearing incidents.

Patrols are staffed with uniformed officers who work in close cooperation with towing and recovery contractors. If a vehicle is disabled on the freeway, the patrols can push it quickly and safely to an area for further assistance.

Enhanced Freeway Patrol vehicles are equipped with heavy-duty push bumpers and carry several vehicle assistance tools.

Two patrols are on duty during the first and second shifts - the busiest and most troublesome times of the day. Patrols focus on critical areas and trouble spots of the freeway system, such as the I-94 east-west corridor between the Marquette and Zoo Interchanges and construction zones. No fees are charged to motorists for patrol services.

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Racine, Kenosha and Waukesha County Gateway Patrols

Gateway Patrols involve four vehicles that are under contract with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Gateway Patrols look like standard tow vehicles, but they are painted bright lime green for higher visibility at night and in bad weather.

 Gateway Patrols operate on the I-94 north-south corridor in Racine and Kenosha counties (Monday through Thursday from 7 to 10 a.m. and from 4 to 7 p.m., and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and in Waukesha County between WIS 83 and the county line/124th Street (Monday through Friday, 6 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m.)

There are no fees charged to motorists for patrol services. Gateway Patrols:

• Relocate disabled vehicles from the highway to safer areas, or crash investigation sites, where the motorist can contact a private towing service for further help.
• Provide small amounts of fuel.
• Handle minor repairs such as changing flat tires and taping hoses.
• Call law enforcement officers to the scene of crashes.
• Remove debris from the freeway.
• Aid law officers and other responders by blocking lanes when necessary. 

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Questions about the content of this page:
Traffic Operations Center, statewide.toc@dot.wi.gov
Last modified: May 19, 2008