WisDOT construction forecast for Labor Day weekend travelers

To help travelers reach their destination over the Labor Day weekend, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) will temporarily pause work on most highway construction projects around the state. Still, drivers are asked to pay attention, and expect slower traffic in work zones and along major travel corridors. According to AAA, peak travel times are expected between 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Thursday (Aug. 29), 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday (Aug. 30) and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday (Sept. 2).

“While the summer travel season is almost in the rearview mirror, drivers must focus on the road ahead,” WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson said. “Let’s continue to work together to make our roads safer and avoid bad driving habits. Our actions behind the wheel can make a big difference – follow posted speed limits, buckle up and put your phone down.”

Significant road construction projects that may impact Labor Day 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.
• 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.
• Forest County: WIS 55 near Argonne is closed from Scott Lake Road to WIS 70. Traffic is detoured via US 8, WIS 139 and WIS 70.
• Waupaca County: WIS 49, between Waupaca County Q and Shady Drive south of Scandinavia, is reduced to a single lane with temporary traffic signals.
• Green Lake County: WIS 44 in the village of Kingston is reduced to a single lane (maximum width is 11 feet) with temporary traffic signals.

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.
• Outagamie County: Be alert for nighttime (9 p.m. to 5 a.m.) lane closures on I-41 between Appleton and Kaukauna. All ramps are closed at the I-41 and County N interchange in Kaukauna.
• 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.
• Winnebago County: I-41 is reduced to two lanes in each direction over the Lake Butte Des Morts bridge near Oshkosh. The southbound US 45 ramp to southbound I-41 is also closed. Watch for lane shifts and reduced speeds.​

Northwest Wisconsin

• Barron and Washburn counties: Both directions of US 53 traffic are operating on the northbound lanes, between 26th Avenue north of Rice Lake to Pine Grove Road south of Sarona. Watch for reduced speed limits.
• Bayfield County: WIS 13 in Washburn is closed to traffic from Thompson Road/Charles Street to 2nd Avenue West.
  • Vehicles are being detoured via West Bigelow Street, West Holman Lakeview Drive, Omaha Street East and 1st Avenue West.
  • Truck traffic is being detoured via US 2, County A and WIS 13.
• Bayfield County: WIS 13, west of Cornucopia, is reduced to a single lane at Lost Creek and controlled by temporary traffic signals.
• Bayfield and Ashland counties: WIS 137 is closed between US 2 in Bayfield County and WIS 112 in Ashland County.
• Eau Claire County: WIS 93 is reduced to a single lane on the north- and southbound bridges over I-94 in Eau Claire. Ramp to westbound I-94 is closed; traffic is being detoured via the US 53 interchange.
• Eau Claire County: The loop ramps at the I-94/US 53 interchange in Eau Claire are closed to traffic, with the following detours in place:
  • Westbound I-94 to southbound US 53 – Follow the northbound US 53 slip ramp at Exit 70, exit at the Golf Road interchange, cross the bridge over US 53 and then use the on-ramp to access southbound US 53.
  • Northbound US 53 to westbound I-94 – Continue north on US 53, use the Golf Road interchange to turn around and follow the slip ramp to westbound I-94.
  • Eastbound I-94 to northbound US 53 – Take Exit 70, follow the slip ramp to US 53 and turn left onto US 53 northbound.
  • Southbound US 53 to eastbound I-94 – Turn left north of the roundabout at Old Town Hall Road and Scully Drive onto the temporary road, cross northbound US 53 and follow the slip ramp to eastbound I-94.
• Jackson County: US 12/WIS 27 is closed to through traffic south of Merrillan, from North Castle Hill Road to South Old Highway 12 and Gilbert Road to just north of West Road. Traffic is detoured via I-94 and WIS 95.
• 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.
• 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.
• Taylor County: WIS 64 is closed to through traffic between Wren Road and the north leg of County E, west of Medford. Through traffic is detoured via WIS 64, County O and County Q.
• Washburn County: Both directions of US 53 are located on the northbound lanes between Wildcat Road, southeast of Spooner, and County A. Watch for reduced speed limits. In addition, the southbound US 53 exit ramp to US 63 is closed.

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 are open in each direction on I-894 between the Mitchell Interchange and 84^th Street. The on and off-ramps at WIS 36 (Loomis Road) are closed.
• Milwaukee County: WIS 32 (N. Lake Drive), between Newberry Blvd. and Edgewood Ave. in the city of Milwaukee, is closed to through traffic for reconstruction work. Northbound and southbound traffic should follow posted detour routes.
• Racine County: The intersection of WIS 11 and County J near the city of Burlington is closed for roundabout construction. The signed detour follows WIS 11/36/83, WIS 142 and WIS 75.
• Racine County: The intersection of WIS 75 and County A, northeast of Burlington, is closed for roundabout construction. Traffic is detoured via WIS 20, US 45 and WIS 11.
• 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.
• Washington County: US 45 (Fond Du Lac Ave) is closed to through traffic between westbound County H and westbound WIS 28 in the village of Kewaskum. 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 speed limits.
• Jefferson County: Two lanes are open on the I-90/94 westbound bridges over Newville Road and Rock Lake Road near Lake Mills. Be alert for reduced speed limits and lane shifts.
• Monroe County: Two lanes remain open in both directions on I-90/94 near Tomah. Watch for reduced speed limits.
• Monroe County: Rest area 16 along I-90 westbound near Sparta is closed.

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.

Law enforcement agencies across Wisconsin are patrolling highways to enforce traffic safety laws. The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign runs through Labor Day to remind drivers it’s not worth the risk to drive while impaired.

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 Labor Day, 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.