DOT Halting Highway Road Construction To Ease Holiday Traffic

In hopes of keeping holiday travel moving on Wisconsin roads this Labor Day weekend the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will temporarily halt construction work on most highway projects this weekend. But the agency is urging motorists to remain vigilant of flood-related closures.

The DOT expects Labor Day weekend traffic to peak between Friday, Aug. 31 and Monday, Sept. 3. To minimize travel impacts, construction work on dozens of roads and highways will be called off over the weekend but there will still be related lane closures and detours on highways spanning across the state.

Added to holiday traffic concerns are numerous road and highway closures in the central part of the state near the Kickapoo and Baraboo rivers from heavy flooding in the wake of Monday storms that dumped up to a foot of rain.

WISDOT is encouraging travelers to check for closure updates on its interactive map at 511wi.gov.

DOT Secretary Dave Ross said state troopers and other law enforcement agencies will have added patrols on roads and highways this weekend as part of the state’s “Drive Sober or Get pulled Over” campaign.

“As we enter one of the major travel holidays of the year, we’re asking all motorists to buckle up, watch their speed, be patient and stay focused on driving,” Ross said in a press release. “The State Patrol and other law enforcement agencies will be out enforcing traffic laws and assisting stranded motorists, but every safe journey begins and ends with a safe driver.”