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STOC - Components, WisDOT Freeway Service Team

The Freeway Service Team is dedicated to handling and clearing incidents.

The main goals of the Freeway Service Team include:

• Assisting disabled motorists with specially equipped vehicles.
• Increasing freeway safety.
• Quick crash clearance.
• Reducing congestion and gaper's blocks.

There are currently three types of patrols operating in Wisconsin:

• Dane County Sheriff Beltline Service Patrols
• Milwaukee County Sheriff Interstate Service Patrols
• Construction Zone and Special Event Freeway Service

Dane County Freeway Service Team

The Dane County Freeway Service Team operates on US 12/14/18/151, Madison's Beltline, between I-39/90 and Mineral Point Road in Dane County.

The Dane County Freeway Service Team is operated by the Dane County Sheriff's Office using a vehicle that is under contract with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

The Dane County Freeway Service Team began in December 2001. Since that time, it has reduced incident clearance time by 30 to 40 percent. Incident detection and verification times were also reduced. The Freeway Service Team has received positive feedback from drivers and emergency respondents who feel the service has improved highway safety and drive time.

The Dane County Freeway Service Team responds to an average of 18 incidents per day and roughly 400 incidents per month and, in June 2010, reached the milestone of having responded to over 50,000 incidents. There are no fees charged to motorists for patrol services.

The Dane County Freeway Service Team:

• Relocates disabled vehicles from the highway to safer areas where the motorist can contact a private towing service for further help.
• Provides small amounts of fuel.
• Handles minor repairs such as changing flat tires and taping hoses.
• Calls additional assistance to the scene of crashes.
• Removes debris from the freeway.
• Aids law enforcement officers and other responders in traffic control during incidents.

Milwaukee County Freeway Service Team

Between 20,000 and 30,000 incidents occur annually on the Milwaukee County freeway system. That equals 70 to 100 incidents per day. The Milwaukee County Freeway Service Team, operated by the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department, is a special fleet of vehicles dedicated to handling and clearing incidents.

The Milwaukee County Freeway Service Team is staffed with uniformed officers who work in close cooperation with towing and recovery contractors. If a vehicle is disabled on the freeway, the patrols can push it quickly and safely to an area for further assistance.

The Milwaukee County Freeway Service Team vehicles are equipped with heavy-duty push bumpers and carry several vehicle assistance tools.

Patrols focus on critical areas and trouble spots of the freeway system, such as the I-94 east-west corridor between the Marquette and Zoo Interchanges and short-term construction zones. No fees are charged to motorists for patrol services.

Construction Zone and Special Event Freeway Service Teams

The Freeway Service Team consists of vehicles that are under contract with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Freeway Service Team vehicles look like standard tow vehicles, but are painted bright yellow green for increased visibility and easy recognition.

These vehicles are currently helping motorists along the I-94 North-South and Badger Interchange work zones. This Freeway Service Team model is typically used on Interstate corridors that are under construction, highly congested, and sensitive to disruption from incidents.

There are no fees charged to motorists for patrol services. The Freeway Service Team:

• Relocates disabled vehicles from the highway to safer areas where the motorist can contact a private towing service for further help.
• Provides small amounts of fuel.
• Handles minor repairs such as changing flat tires and taping hoses.
• Calls law enforcement officers to the scene of crashes.
• Removes debris from the freeway.
• Aids law officers and other responders by providing traffic control as appropriate.

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Questions about the content of this page:
Traffic Operations Center, statewide.toc@dot.wi.gov
Last modified: July 29, 2010