MADISON, WI (WTAQ) – Travel over this Labor Day weekend is expected to see close to normal levels of traffic congestion, as people are looking to get out of the house – and as things have slowly shifted back towards normal.
“There are quite a few people traveling so we do expect many more motorists on the road this weekend,” said DOT Regional Communications Manager Mark Kantola. “People should be aware that there’s going to be a lot of traffic on the highway this holiday weekend and they need to plan ahead.”
Part of that planning ahead means taking all necessary safety precautions. Kantola had some suggestions, which many people will likely recognize as basic road safety tips.
“Plan ahead. Wear their seat belts, drive safely – buckling up and putting down the phone are the two easiest lifesaving things you can do when you’re traveling,” Kantola said. “With more traffic on the highways that means there’s more opportunities to become involved in a crash so you want to make sure that your attention is is on the road and that you are buckled up.”
Other safety tips include moving over or slowing down when approaching emergency responders – and ensuring that you properly secure trailers and cargo before hitting the road. If your vehicle breaks down, try to get safely off the highway and remain inside until help arrives.
It is also illegal to use phones in any capacity while passing through a work zone, even if construction workers are not present at the time – which they won’t be this weekend.
“To minimize construction delays we do take most of the construction workers off the projects for the holiday weekend as of about noon on Friday through Tuesday morning,” Kantola told WTAQ News.
But another part of planning your safe Labor Day weekend adventure is knowing where you’re going, and how you’re getting there. It’s important to check out your route – even if it’s something you’ve traveled consistently over the years – to make sure there are no detours.
“There’s nothing worse than getting to grandma’s house and the ramp to where you’re going is closed and you have to find a different route,” Kantola said. “[In Northeast Wisconsin], you’ll encounter some construction barrels on [Highway] 67 and 64, but the roads are open. And again, the workers won’t be working on the sides of the roads.”
Kantola also reminded people in Brown County about the Interstate 43 to Webster Avenue closure.
The state Department of Transportation says as many lanes as possible will be open for travelers, but construction zones with closures across the state include:
- Manitowoc County: US 10/Waldo Boulevard is closed in the city of Manitowoc along sections between County R and 14th Street. Eastbound US 10 is detoured via I-43 and US 151. Westbound US 10 is detoured via US 151 and I-43.
- Waupaca County: The WIS 49 bridge over the South Branch of the Little Wolf River is closed in the village of Iola. Vehicle and pedestrian traffic will be detoured around the bridge.
- Winnebago County: WIS 76 is closed for reconstruction from I-41 north of Oshkosh to County Road JJ in the town of Vinland. The detour takes I-41 to US 45 to US 10.
- Adams County: WIS 82 is closed for construction from County B to the Marquette/Adams County Line. Access is being maintained for local traffic only.
- Barron County: The ramp from WIS 48 to northbound US 53 in Rice Lake is closed. The detour takes US 53 southbound to the County O exit.
- Chippewa County: WIS 27 is closed south of Cornell. The detour takes WIS 29, WIS 178 and WIS 64.
- Dane and Rock counties: Motorists on I-39/90, and I-43 near Beloit, should be alert for lane shifts and crossovers. The speed limit is reduced to 60 mph.
- Dunn and St. Croix counties: Traffic on I-94 is split in a 3-1 configuration in the Knapp Hill area west of Menomonie. Westbound traffic is reduced to one lane on each side of the divided highway.
- Jackson County: US 12/WIS 27 northeast of Black River Falls is closed. The detour takes I-94, WIS 95 and US 12/WIS 27.
- Jefferson County: I-94 between Lake Mills and Johnson Creek has a 4.5-mile-long work zone. Two lanes are open in each direction. Motorists can expect to encounter narrow lanes and lane shifts. The speed limit is reduced to 60 mph.
- Lincoln County: WIS 64 traffic will be controlled by temporary signals at the Pine River Bridge replacement project, located approximately 4.5 miles east of US 51, and closed for construction between Mink Road and the Taylor County Line.
- Marquette County: WIS 23 traffic will be controlled by temporary traffic signals at the Mecan River Bridge replacement project, located between Montello and Princeton.
- Sauk County: US 12 between Sauk City and Baraboo is reduced to a single lane each direction.
- Vernon County: WIS 35 (Great River Road) is closed to through traffic between Genoa and Stoddard. The detour takes WIS 56 and US 14/61.
For live traffic conditions wherever your travels take you, call 511 or follow @511WI on Twitter for information.
If you’re wondering how much it’ll cost to make the trip, GasBuddy is projecting the lowest Labor Day weekend gas prices in 16 years.
