Drive safely, celebrate responsibly during Fourth of July weekend

With the Fourth of July holiday weekend fast approaching, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) urges motorists to slow down on Wisconsin roads and celebrate safe driving habits. According to AAA, Wisconsinites will set a record with more than 1.47 million residents taking a road trip this holiday weekend. Peak travel times are expected from noon to 9 p.m. Wednesday (July 2), 2-6 p.m. Thursday (July 3), noon to 7 p.m. Friday (July 4) and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 6. “Know before you go” with 511 Wisconsin, 511wi.gov or the free 511 WI app, to stay aware of road conditions and view live traffic cameras on your route.

“We’re all eager to arrive at our favorite summer destination safely, but we need everyone to make smart decisions behind the wheel on Wisconsin highways,” WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman said. “We must work together to keep our roads safe – plan extra travel time, buckle up, put the phone down, drive with caution in construction zones, and never drive impaired. Every driver makes a difference.”

Most road construction will pause over the holiday weekend to open as many lanes as possible. Significant road construction projects that may impact Fourth of July weekend travel include:

North Central Wisconsin

• Forest County: US 8 is closed between Laona and Crandon. Traffic is detoured via WIS 55, WIS 64 and WIS 32.
• Iron County: US 51 near Mercer is restricted to a single lane with temporary traffic signals at Turtle River.
• Wood County: WIS 73 is closed to through traffic from Industrial Street, in Wisconsin Rapids, to WIS 186. The signed detour route follows WIS 13, WIS 54 and WIS 80.
• Wood County: WIS 173 is closed from Babcock to County GG near Nekoosa. Traffic is detoured via WIS 73, WIS 54 and WIS 80.

Northeast Wisconsin

• Brown and Outagamie counties: Two lanes are open each way on I-41 between Appleton and Green Bay. Watch for lane shifts and reduced speed limits.
• Door County: WIS 57 is closed between County T and County V for bridge construction in the town of Jacksonport. No vehicles are allowed to cross the bridge and traffic is detoured via County T and County V.
• Fond du Lac and Winnebago counties: Be alert for lane shifts and reduced speed limits on I-41 between County D (Military Road) in Fond du Lac and WIS 26 near Oshkosh. All lanes remain open during daytime hours.
• Outagamie, Calumet and Winnebago counties: WIS 441 remains open to two lanes each way between I-41 and Oneida Street. Watch for lane shifts and reduced speed limits.
• Outagamie County: WIS 54 is closed between County M and WIS 76 near the village of Shiocton. The signed detour follows WIS 76, County S and County M.
• Outagamie County: WIS 76 is closed between WIS 54 east junction and WIS 54 west junction in the village of Shiocton. Traffic is detoured via County S, County M, and WIS 54.
• Sheboygan County: WIS 28 is closed for bridge replacement in Cascade. No vehicles allowed to cross the bridge and traffic must follow detour via County A and WIS 57.
• Sheboygan County: WIS 32 is closed for box culvert replacement between the village of Cedar Grove and County V near Gibbsville. The signed detour follows I-43 and County V.

Northwest Wisconsin

• Ashland County: WIS 13 is open from Butterworth Road to US 2 in Ashland. Watch for lane shifts as north- and southbound traffic is operating on the northbound lanes from 16th to US 2.
• Ashland County: WIS 169 is closed to through traffic from WIS 13 in Mellen to the Iron County line. Through traffic is detoured via WIS 13, WIS 77, US 51 and US 2.
  • Access to Copper Falls State Park and the North Country National Scenic Trail, as well as local residential traffic, is maintained via WIS 77, Olson Road and Butler Road.
  • Temporary traffic signals are in place on Butler Road west of East Tyler Avenue to control large noncommercial trailers and campers in the tight curved sections of Butler Road.
• Barron County: US 53 is reduced to a single lane in both directions on the bridges over 22½ Avenue north of Rice Lake.
• Barron County: US 53 South between Cameron and New Auburn is reduced to a single lane of traffic at multiple bridge locations. Watch for reduced speed limits and width restrictions of 15 feet 3 inches on bridges.
• Eau Claire County: Southbound I-94 traffic is shifted on temporary lanes from Otter Creek to Mallard Road. Watch for reduced speed limits.
• Eau Claire County: WIS 93 is closed to through traffic from Cedar Road south of Eau Claire south to the Trempealeau County line. Through traffic is detoured via US 10, WIS 37 and I-94.
• Pierce County: US 63 is closed from WIS 72 to County J. Traffic is detoured via WIS 65 and County J.
• St. Croix County: US 63 traffic is operating on a bypass road around a branch of the Rush River in Baldwin.
• St. Croix County: Watch for traffic shifts on westbound I-94 traffic at multiple bridge locations between Roberts and Hudson. Also follow reduced speed limits.
• Taylor County: WIS 64 is closed to through traffic east of Medford. Through traffic is detoured via WIS 97, WIS 29 and WIS 13.
• Taylor County: WIS 73 is closed to through traffic from WIS 64 West east of Gilman to County M West in Hannibal. Through traffic is detoured via WIS 64, WIS 27 and US 8.
• Trempealeau County: US 10 is closed from County K to Rose Lane in Osseo. Through traffic on US 10 is detoured via US 53, County HH and I-94. Through traffic on US 53, where it runs concurrent with US 10 between its northern and southern legs, is detoured via WIS 121, County HH and I-94.

Southeast Wisconsin

• Milwaukee County: I-41, between Burleigh Street and Good Hope Road, is reduced to two lanes in each direction. Motorists can expect various ramp closures along the corridor and slower traffic in this area.
• Milwaukee and Ozaukee counties: At least two lanes remain open in each direction of I-43 between the Marquette Interchange in Milwaukee and the village of Grafton. Motorists can expect various ramp closures throughout the corridor.
• Walworth County: US 12, between WIS 20/WIS 67 and County P/Elkhorn Road, near the city of Whitewater, is closed to through traffic. The signed detour follows County P, County A, and County ES.
• Waukesha County: WIS 83, between Golf Road and Vettelson Road, is closed to through traffic. Traffic is detoured via I-94, WIS 67, and WIS 16.

Southwest Wisconsin

• Columbia County: Three lanes open in each direction on the I-39/90/94 bridge over the Wisconsin River, south of Portage. Watch for lane shifts and reduced speed limits.
• Dane County: I-39/90 in Madison is open to three lanes in each direction. Watch for reduced speed limits.
• Dane and Jefferson counties: Two lanes open in each direction on I-94 between Cottage Grove and Lake Mills.
• Juneau and Sauk counties: I-90/94 near Wisconsin Dells is open to two lanes in each direction.
• Rock County: I-43 is reduced to one lane in each direction from Hart Road to the east Rock County line.

Access real-time information on travel conditions, live traffic cameras, work zones and incidents across Wisconsin:

• Download the free 511 WI app
• Visit 511wi.gov
• Follow @511WI on X
• Dial 511

Alerts and updates provided via these sites are not intended for use while driving. When driving, your focus should always be on the road ahead.

Motorists may encounter the WisDOT Safety Patrol, sponsored by GEICO, along sections of I-41 in Brown and Outagamie counties, I-43 in Milwaukee County, and I-39/90/94 in Columbia County. The fleet of specially equipped vehicles help manage highway incidents within major construction work zones to keep everyone safe. Coverage hours vary, but most coverage is seven days per week, up to 14 hours per day. Learn more about the WisDOT Safety Patrol.

Most Wisconsin rest areas are open and these facilities offer restrooms, amenities and a break from travel. The rest area along I-90 westbound near Sparta and the rest areas along I-43 near Denmark and Maribel are closed for reconstruction. View all of WisDOT’s roadside facilities.

WisDOT offers these safety reminders:

• Buckle Up, Phone Down – every trip, every time. Encourage family, friends and co-workers to take the pledge.

· Slow down. Posted speed limits apply to ideal travel conditions. Drivers are required to travel at a “reasonable and prudent” speed based on weather and traffic conditions.

· Eliminate distractions and focus on what’s ahead. Texting while driving is prohibited and very dangerous. It is also illegal in Wisconsin for drivers to use a handheld mobile device in work zones.

· Move over or slow down for emergency responders stopped along a highway with their warning lights flashing. That includes police and fire vehicles, ambulances, tow trucks and highway maintenance vehicles. In addition, state law restricts the use of a cell phone in areas surrounding those vehicles.

· Steer It, Clear It! State law requires drivers to move vehicles involved in a crash out of traffic if no one is hurt and the vehicles can be moved safely. If someone is hurt or the vehicle is disabled, drivers should not risk injury by trying to push the vehicle out of traffic.

Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicle (DMV) customer service centers will be closed on the Fourth of July and Saturday (July 5) for any locations typically open on Saturdays. DMV online service is open 24/7 at wisconsindmv.gov.

Travelers may want to consider adding emergency contact information to their license data. Visit wisconsindmv.gov/emergencycontact for the convenient online self-service application. Only law enforcement can access the information and help expedite contact to a family member or other loved one more quickly in the event of an emergency.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.