Most main highways open for Fourth of July holiday travel

June 25, 2012

'Summer Heat' speed enforcement effort will be underway

Although work on most major highway construction projects in Wisconsin will be on hold during the Fourth of July holiday, motorists might still encounter some lane restrictions and could experience delays during peak travel periods, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT).

"To keep holiday traffic flowing as smoothly as possible, most construction and planned repairs in work zones will cease by around noon on Tuesday, July 3, and won’t resume until Thursday, July 5. On some highways, construction may cease on Friday, June 29, and not resume until Sunday, July 8," says Don Greuel of the WisDOT Project Services Section. "However, heavy traffic during the holiday will still make driving through work zones especially challenging. To prevent crashes, drivers must slow down, pay attention and allow a safety cushion when approaching and traveling through work zones. Rear-end collisions caused primarily by speeding, distracted driving and following other vehicles too closely are the most frequent type of crash in work zones."

With a mid-week holiday and many people on vacation for the entire week, traffic may be more spread out, according to Greuel. However, peak travel hours are expected to be between approximately noon and 8 p.m. on the following dates:

• Friday, June 29
• Tuesday, July 3
• Wednesday, July 4
• Sunday, July 8

Last year, five people were killed in traffic crashes in Wisconsin during the Fourth of July holiday period, which included a three-day weekend.

"To save lives and reduce injuries, 120 Wisconsin law enforcement agencies will mobilize for the Summer Heat traffic safety campaign from July 2 to 18. Officers will have zero tolerance for speeding violations and other dangerous driving behavior," says Wisconsin State Patrol Major Sandra Huxtable of the WisDOT Bureau of Transportation Safety.

For a safe Fourth of July, motorists are advised to plan for adequate time to get to their destination, be patient when encountering traffic congestion, and, if possible, avoid driving during peak travel hours.

Significant road construction projects that may affect highway travel include the following:

• Mitchell Interchange in Milwaukee County
• I-94 in Milwaukee County
• I-94 in Kenosha County
• I-43 in Ozaukee and Sheboygan counties
• US 41 in Winnebago and Brown counties
• I-94 in Eau Claire and St. Croix counties

Work on the Wisconsin River bridges on I-39/90/94 in Columbia County is being suspended for the summer months and all lanes are open.

For up-to-the-minute information on work zones and incidents that may affect highway travel, motorists can use the state’s 511 travel information system by dialing 511 on a phone or visiting 511wi.gov on the web. To eliminate distractions while behind the wheel, drivers should use mobile communication devices only when their vehicle is at a complete stop off the traveled portion of the roadway.

For more information, contact:
Don Greuel, WisDOT Project Services Section
(608) 267-7774, donald.greuel@dot.wi.gov

State Patrol Major Sandra Huxtable, WisDOT Bureau of Transportation Safety
(608) 266-3048, sandra.huxtable@dot.wi.gov