Expect company on Wisconsin roads during Fourth of July weekend travel

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) reminds travelers over the Fourth of July weekend to celebrate safe driving and expect slower traffic in work zones and along major travel corridors. According to AAA, about 1.4 million people will travel on Wisconsin roads this holiday weekend. Peak travel times are expected between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday (July 3) and 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday (July 7). WisDOT encourages drivers to “know before you go” with 511wi.gov or the 511 Wisconsin mobile app.

“Wisconsinites are expected to travel in record numbers for the Fourth of July weekend, so we urge drivers to keep their eyes up and speeds down,” WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson said. “Together, we can make a difference on our roads with safe driving behaviors. Buckle up, drive sober and be courteous to other motorists. These simple steps can help save lives and prevent crashes on Wisconsin roads.”

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

• Langlade County: WIS 55 near Hollister is restricted to a single lane with temporary traffic signals at Nine Mile Creek.
• Marathon County: WIS 13 in Colby is closed from WIS 153 to Marathon County N. Traffic is detoured via WIS 29 and WIS 97.
• Marathon County: Watch for lane closures on WIS 13 in: Colby between Marathon County N and the southern Colby limits; Spencer from WIS 98 to LaSalle Street; and Unity from 2^nd Street to northern Unity limits.
• Oneida County: US 8 near Rhinelander is closed from WIS 17 North to Oneida County P. Traffic is detoured via Oneida County P and WIS 17.
• Oneida County: WIS 17 in Rhinelander is restricted to a single lane in each direction between Stevens Street and Pollyanna Road.
• Outagamie and Waupaca County: WIS 76 near Bear Creek are closed between US 45 and WIS 54. Traffic is detoured via WIS 54 and US 45.
• Shawano County: WIS 117 in Bonduel is closed between South Street and Shawano County BE. Traffic is detoured via WIS 29, WIS 55, and WIS 52.
• Wood County: WIS 80 is closed to through traffic from the Juneau County Line to Pine Street and from Marathon Avenue in Babcock to the WIS 80/173 intersection north of Babcock. WIS 80 and WIS 173 are closed to all traffic between Pine Street and Marathon Avenue in Babcock with no through access. Traffic is detoured via WIS 21, WIS 13, WIS 73, and WIS 173.

Northeast Wisconsin

• Outagamie and Winnebago counties: Northbound I-41 is reduced to two lanes between Main Street and US 10/WIS 441 in the Fox Valley area. Significant delays are expected and drivers should consider alternate routes. Watch for lane shifts and reduced speed limits.
• Brown County: WIS 172 is closed to through traffic between WIS 54 in the village of Hobart and the Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport. Through traffic is detoured via WIS 54 and I-41.
• Outagamie County: WIS 15 is closed to through traffic between US 45 in the city of New London and County T in the village of Hortonville. Traffic is detoured via US 45, County TT and County T.
• Outagamie County: WIS 54 is closed at the WIS 55/County C/Ivory Street intersection in downtown Seymour. Traffic is detoured via WIS 47, Outagamie County G, and Mainline Drive.
• Outagamie County: WIS 76 is closed to through traffic between US 45 in the town of Bear Creek and WIS 54 in Shiocton. Follow the detour route via WIS 54 and US 45.
• Outagamie County: WIS 76 is closed at the WIS 76 and School Road intersection in Greenville. Traffic is detoured via WIS 96, Outagamie County CB, and WIS 15.
• Outagamie County: WIS 96 is closed to through between WIS 55 in Kaukauna and Outagamie County U in Wrightstown. Drivers should follow the signed detour via WIS 55, I-41 and County U.

Northwest Wisconsin

• Barron and Washburn counties: Both directions of US 53 traffic are located on the southbound lanes, between 26^th Avenue north of Rice Lake to Pine Grover Road south of Sarona. Watch for reduced speed limits.
• Bayfield County: WIS 13 in the city of Washburn is closed to traffic from Thompson Road/Charles Street to 2^nd Avenue West.
  • Vehicles weighing 20 tons or less are detoured via West Bigelow Street, West Holman Lakeview Drive, Omaha Street East and 1^st Avenue West.
  • Vehicles weighing more than 20 tons are detoured via US 2, County A and WIS 13.
• Bayfield County: WIS 13 west of Cornucopia is reduced to a single lane controlled by temporary traffic signals.
• Chippewa County: The ramp from County S to southbound US 53 northwest of Chippewa Falls is closed. One lane is open each way on County S at the US 53 interchange. Watch for lane shifts and be alert to a lane width restriction of 10.5 feet in both lanes.
• Dunn County: WIS 64, from County O north of Boyceville east to the north junction of County W, is closed to through traffic. Traffic is detoured via WIS 19, WIS 170, WIS 40 and US 53. WIS 25, which runs north and south through the project limits, remains open to traffic.
• Pierce County: WIS 35 is reduced to a single lane of traffic, controlled by temporary traffic signals, between Chestnut and Green streets in Maiden Rock.
• Pierce County: WIS 35 is reduced to a single lane of traffic, controlled by temporary traffic signals, at the Big River Bridge southeast of Prescott.
• Pierce County: US 10 from WIS 29/35 in Prescott to the south junction of US 63 west of Ellsworth is closed to through traffic. Traffic is detoured via WIS 29/35 and WIS 65.
• Sawyer County: WIS 70 is reduced to a single lane of traffic controlled by stop signs at Log Creek northwest of the unincorporated community of Oxbo.
• Washburn County: Both directions of US 53 are located on the southbound lanes between Wildcat Road, southeast of Spooner, and County A. Watch for reduced speed limits.

Southeast Wisconsin

• Milwaukee and Ozaukee counties: Expect intermittent ramp and local street closures in certain segments along I-43 between Glendale and Grafton.
• Milwaukee County: Motorists should expect various ramp closures and single lane closures along I-43 between Capitol Drive and the Marquette Interchange.
• Milwaukee County: At least two lanes of travel remain open in each direction on I-894 between the Mitchell Interchange and 84^th Street.
• Racine County: The intersection of WIS 11 and County J near the city of Burlington is closed for roundabout construction.
• Walworth and Racine counties: WIS 20, between East Troy and Waterford, is closed to through traffic for a bridge replacement and resurfacing project. Traffic is detoured via WIS 83, I-43 and WIS 120.
• Walworth County: US 12 between WIS 20 and the WIS 67/US 12 split, north of the city of Elkhorn, is closed to through traffic for a resurfacing and bridge replacement project. Traffic is detoured via WIS 20, I-43 and WIS 67.
• Walworth County: WIS 36, between the city of Burlington and the city of Lake Geneva, is closed to through traffic for a bridge replacement and resurfacing project. The signed detour follows WIS 11, WIS 83, WIS 50, US 12 and WIS 120.
• Walworth County: WIS 11 near the city of Elkhorn is closed to through traffic for a box culvert replacement project. Traffic is detoured via WIS 67 and I-43.

Southwest Wisconsin

• Columbia County: Three lanes are open in each direction on the I-39/90/94 bridge over the Wisconsin River, south of Portage. Watch for lane shifts and reduced speeds.
• Jefferson County: Two lanes are open on I-90/94 westbound bridges over Newville Road and Rock Lake Road near Lake Mills. Be alert for reduced speeds and lane shifts.
• Monroe County: Two lanes remain open in both directions on I-90/94 near Tomah. Watch for reduced speed limits.
• Sauk County: I-90/94 is open to two lanes in each direction between Wisconsin Dells and Portage.

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

• Download the free 511 Wisconsin 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.

The WisDOT Safety Patrol, sponsored by GEICO, is a fleet of specially equipped vehicles located in key WisDOT construction projects that manage highway incidents to keep everyone safe. Learn more about the WisDOT Safety Patrol.

All Wisconsin rest areas are open. These facilities offer restrooms, amenities and a break from travel.

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 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, but DMV online service is open 24/7 at wisconsindmv.gov.

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.