For more information, contact:
Don Greuel, WisDOT Project Services Section
(608) 267-7774, Donald.Greuel@dot.wi.gov
Randy Romanski, WisDOT Bureau of Transportation Safety
(608) 267-9075, Randy.Romanski@dot.wi.gov
‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ crackdown on drunken driving continues
During the Labor Day weekend, workers will take a break from construction on most highway projects around the state, but motorists may still encounter lane restrictions in work zones that require extra precautions, according to Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) officials.
“To accommodate the Labor Day weekend traffic, most major highway construction and repair work will cease on Friday, Sept. 2 at about noon and won’t resume until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6,” says Don Greuel of the WisDOT Project Services Section. “However, because of the increased holiday traffic, driving through work zones will be even more challenging. Drivers will need to slow down, pay attention and avoid following other vehicles too closely when approaching and traveling through work zones. Posted work zone speed limits are still in force even when workers are not present.”
Peak travel times on highways during the Labor Day weekend are expected to be from noon until 8 p.m. on both Friday, Sept. 2, and Monday, Sept. 5. Motorists should allow adequate time to get to their destination, be patient when encountering traffic congestion, and avoid driving during the peak travel hours if possible.
Last year, eight people died in traffic crashes during the Labor Day weekend. To prevent traffic deaths and injuries, law enforcement officers from all over Wisconsin and throughout the nation will be patrolling in greater numbers and for more hours to arrest drunken drivers during the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, which runs through Labor Day. Last year, alcohol-related crashes killed 220 people in Wisconsin and injured 3,511.
“Throughout the state, law enforcement officers are arresting drunken drivers. Last year in Wisconsin, there were more than 40,000 convictions for drunken driving. But despite the risk of arrest, not to mention a violent crash, too many people still drive while impaired,” says State Patrol Maj. Sandy Huxtable, director of the WisDOT Bureau of Transportation Safety.
Though not formally part of the holiday travel weekend, traffic impacts are also expected on Thursday, Sept. 1, as there are home games scheduled for the Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers, as well as the season opener for the University of Wisconsin Badger’s football team. People going to the games are urged to allow extra time for travel.
For up-to-the-minute information on work zones and incidents that may affect highway travel, motorists should use the state’s 511 traveler information system by dialing 511 on their phone or visiting 511 on the Web (http://www.511wi.gov).
Many of the work zones motorists may encounter during the Labor Day weekend are listed below. A corresponding map is on the WisDOT Web site (http://www.dot.state.wi.us/news/docs/labordaymap.pdf).
1. I-94 from Russell Road to the Wisconsin state line, 1 mile. Lane reductions due to construction.
2. I-43/I-894 between Loomis Road and I-43/I-894/I-94 Mitchell Interchange, 1.6 miles and I-94 between College and Howard avenues, 4 miles. The ramp from I 894 eastbound to I-43/I-94 northbound is closed with a detour via Loomis Road and Howard Avenue. Lane restrictions along I-94 between the Mitchell Interchange and College Avenue, both directions.
3. I-94 at Waukesha County P, 1 mile. Lane shift with two lanes open in each direction on one side of the median.
4. WIS 83 between Waukesha County NN and WIS 59, 6 miles. Reconstruction has closed highway with detour via I-43, WIS 164, and WIS 59.
5. US 18 (Bluemound Road) between Moorland Road and Mayfair Road (Hwy 100). Lane restrictions, two lanes in each direction remain open.
6. WIS 42 from Howards Grove to US 151, 17.9 miles. Pavement repairs and bridge and culvert replacements have closed WIS 42 with detour via WIS 42, I-43, and US 151.
7. US 41 from one mile south of WIS 26 to Breezewood Lane, 16 miles. Construction requires 11-foot width restriction and has narrowed shoulders. Interchanges US 45 and Breezewood Avenue are closed. The 9th Avenue interchange is open except for southbound ramps. Detours are posted. Expect delays during peak travel periods.
8. US 41 at the Scheuring Road Interchange at Green Bay, 1 mile. The overpass is closed for reconstruction, but ramps are open.
9. WIS 22 from WIS 29 to Shawano County B, 0.7 mile. Bridge work has closed highway with detour via WIS 29 and WIS 47/55.
10. I-94 from the I-39/90/94 Badger Interchange to Dane County N, 5.2 miles. Traffic is limited to two lanes in each direction on one side of the median with a 55 mile per hour speed limit.
11. WIS 29 between County FF and Taylor Street, five miles. Construction requires 11-foot width restriction and has narrowed shoulders. Access to County J removed. Detours are posted.
12. WIS 26 between Fort Atkinson and Watertown, 22 miles. Bypass construction may result in reduced lane widths and closed shoulders throughout the corridor.
13. US 10 between WIS 13/ Wood County BB and Stadt Road, at Marshfield, 3 miles. One lane in each direction.
14. I-39/US 51 at the Foxglove Road overpass, 1 mile. Reconstruction of the northbound bridge over Business 51 and reconstruction of the Foxglove Road overpass has closed on-ramp from Business 51 to northbound I-39. Traffic is detoured via Business 51 and WIS 29.
15. WIS 52 from 18th Avenue to 17th Avenue in the city of Wausau. WIS 52 eastbound traffic is reduced to one lane. WIS 52 westbound traffic is open to two lanes. Motorists will encounter some local road restrictions to and from WIS 52.
16. WIS 32 at Torpee Creek. WIS 32 traffic reduced to one lane at the structure using traffic signals.
17. US 10 from Portage County N to Long Road, 5.5 miles. Construction of the remainder of the WIS 34 south interchange has closed WIS 34 south. Traffic is detoured via WIS 66 and Portage County O. Old US 10 between WIS 34 north and WIS 34 south is only open to local traffic and those motorists with a destination in Junction City.
18. WIS 13 from Taylor County line to Price County A. Highway resurfacing and culvert replacements. Motorists can expect to encounter temporary traffic signals.
19. US 51, south of Beachway Drive to just north of Iron County J, town of Mercer. Reconstruction and local road improvements. US 51 will remain open to one lane of traffic in each direction. Motorists can expect to encounter temporary traffic signals and the Little Turtle River. Local roads will temporarily be closed to through traffic.
20. WIS 13 at Medford, 2 miles. Reconstruction has closed WIS 13 with detour via Taylor County O, Q, and M.
21. US 53 at Galesville, 1.1 mile. Bridge replacement has closed US 53 requiring detour via Trempealeau County TT and T.
22. US 8 from Glacier Drive in St. Croix Falls to WIS 35, 2.3 miles. Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction.
23. WIS 77 from Deer Lake Road to the east Burnett County line, 2.5 miles. Reconstruction of WIS 77 and replacement of the bridge at Webb Lake narrows has closed WIS 77. Westbound traffic is detoured via US 53, WIS 70 and WIS 35. Eastbound WIS 77 traffic is detoured via WIS 35, WIS 70, and US 53.
