After Huge Pileup, DOT Promises Safer Bridge Crossing On Hwy 41

After a white-out and massive traffic accident earlier this week, the DOT promises a safer U.S. Highway 41.

Tuesday’s snow storm caused a 26-car pile up on highway 41 in northeastern Wisconsin. The highway is under construction, and the DOT says when the work is done it will be a safer road in all seasons.

Conditions on the Highway 41 bridge over Lake Buttes Des Morts in Oshkosh can change almost instantaneously. Snow from the lake whipped up Tuesday and caused a white out. 26 cars piled up and 15 people were injured.

Tom Bucholz is the Highway 41 project manager in Winnebago county. He says a number of improvements are being made.

They will include a four and a half foot barrier between the northbound and southbound lanes, a cable system, four lanes of traffic, and plantings on the lake bed beneath the bridge to block blowing snow.

“Part of what we’ve done, too, is we have dynamic message boards across the highway to alert people. Those were activated. The south bound sign was activated that there was blowing and drifting snow on the causeway to alert drivers. So there’s some warning, more than just travel time. So they know there’s something different ahead.”

With more snow on the way drivers all across the state are being urged to use common sense and check the DOT’s website for road conditions.