As Wisconsinites finalize their plans for the Labor Day holiday weekend, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) reminds drivers that a safe trip starts with smart choices behind the wheel. According to AAA, peak travel times are expected from 2-7 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 3), between noon and 8 p.m. Friday (Sept. 4) and from 2-5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 7. Stay ahead of those busier times and “know before you go” with 511 Wisconsin to access to hundreds of traffic cameras, view current travel speeds or incidents along your route.

“Labor Day weekend is a time to make memories and enjoy one last summer adventure,” WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman said. “As our roads get busier this holiday weekend, let’s make safety part of the plan – slow down, buckle up, put the phone away and drive sober. Every safe choice helps ensure everyone gets home safely.”

Most road construction will pause over the holiday weekend to open as many lanes as possible. Significant road construction projects that may impact Labor Day weekend travel include:

North Central Wisconsin

  • Forest County: WIS 32 is closed between US 8 and Range Line Road in Crandon. Traffic is detoured via US 8 and US 45.
  • Lincoln County: WIS 17 is closed between Lincoln County G and Norwegian Road near Merrill. Traffic is detoured via Lincoln County G and Lincoln County C.
  • Lincoln County: WIS 107 is closed between Wilderness Drive and Lincoln County S near Tomahawk. Traffic is detoured via WIS 64, US 51, and Lincoln County S.
  • Marathon County: WIS 29 is restricted to a single lane in each direction between WIS 97 and WIS 107 near Athens. The Marathon County H interchange ramps are closed.
  • Menominee County: WIS 47 is closed between the Langlade County line and County VV (west). Traffic is detoured via US 45, and WIS 29 near Neopit.
  • Oneida County: US 8 is closed between WIS 47 and WIS 17 North in Rhinelander. Traffic is detoured via Kemp Street, Arbutus Street, Pelham Street, Courtney Street, Lincoln Street, and WIS 17.
  • Shawano County: WIS 29 is restricted to a single lane in each direction between Shawano County J east of Wittenberg and South Highline Road east of Shawano.
  • Waupaca County: US 10 is open to one lane each way between the Portage County line and WIS 22 near Waupaca.
  • Waupaca and Shawano counties: US 45 is restricted to a single lane in each direction between Waupaca County C and Gollnow Road near Marion.
  • Wood and Portage counties: WIS 13/34 is closed between Rudolph and US 10. Traffic is detoured via WIS 66, I-39, and US 10.

Northeast Wisconsin

  • Brown and Outagamie counties: Two lanes are open each way on I-41 between Appleton and Green Bay. Watch for lane shifts and reduced speed limits.
  • Calumet County: WIS 55, just south of County E in Stockbridge, is closed to traffic. Traffic is detoured via WIS 32/57 and US 151.
  • Marinette County: WIS 180 is closed between Wausaukee and County X. The detour route directs motorists to use US 141 and County X to rejoin WIS 180.
  • Oconto County: WIS 22 is closed through the city of Gillett. A signed detour directs WIS 22 traffic to use County R and County H.
  • Outagamie County: The WIS 47/Richmond Street interchange over I-41 in Appleton is closed to traffic.
  • Outagamie County: WIS 76 from Everglade Road to County JJ and the WIS 76/County JJ intersection is closed in the village of Greenville. Traffic is detoured via WIS 15 to County JJ to N Olk Street to County M to County S to WIS 76.
  • Sheboygan County: Northbound I-43 collector distributor bridge over I-43 and associated loop ramps closed to traffic.
    • Detour for WIS 23 eastbound ramp to I-43 northbound traffic: Follow Taylor Drive to WIS 23 westbound to I-43 northbound.
    • Detour for I-43 northbound ramp to WIS 23 westbound traffic: Follow WIS 42 to I-43 southbound to WIS 23 westbound.
  • Winnebago County: WIS 21 is closed to through traffic between Omro and Oshkosh. Traffic is detoured via WIS 116, US 45 and I-41.

Northwest Wisconsin

  • Ashland County: WIS 13 northwest of Glidden and north of Hennes Road is reduced to a single lane of traffic controlled by temporary traffic signals at Becky Creek.
  • Barron County: County D is restricted to a single lane of traffic controlled by temporary traffic signals at the Lake Chetek Bridge in Chetek.
  • Barron County: US 53 South between Cameron and Chetek is reduced to a single lane of traffic at three bridge locations. Watch for reduced speed limits. The ramp from County I to southbound US 53 is closed.
  • Barron County: US 63 is closed in the city of Cumberland at Beaver Dam Lake. Traffic is detoured via WIS 48, US 53 and WIS 70.
  • Bayfield County: WIS 13 remains open to traffic, but motorists are using a temporary two-lane bypass to travel around the construction site at Little Whittlesey Creek north of the US 2/WIS 13 roundabout.
  • Bayfield County: WIS 13 remains open to traffic with width restrictions at Engoe Road south of Washburn. The northbound lane is restricted to 13.5 feet, and the southbound lane is restricted to 12 feet. Engoe Road also is closed at WIS 13.
  • Bayfield County: US 63 is restricted to a single lane of traffic controlled by temporary traffic signals between Delta Drummond Road and Drummond Lake Road in Drummond.
  • Clark County: WIS 13 is restricted to a single lane of traffic controlled by temporary traffic signals at the culvert between Pine and Center Roads and the structure north of Willow Road, all between Abbotsford and Dorchester.
  • Clark County: WIS 98 remains open to traffic from WIS 73 south of Greenwood to Helm Street in Loyal, but motorists will encounter single-lane closures controlled by temporary traffic signals at three locations in the project limits.
  • Douglas County: WIS 13 is restricted to a single lane of traffic controlled by temporary traffic signals at the bridge over US 2/53 southeast of Superior.
  • Douglas County: WIS 27 is closed at Sandy Run Creek just south of US 2 in Brule. Traffic is being detoured via Bayfield County N, County A and US 2.
  • Douglas County: WIS 105, west of Tower Avenue, in Superior is open to traffic using a single-lane bypass controlled by temporary traffic signals. Heavy truck traffic is detoured via MN 23, US 2 and WIS 35.
  • Dunn County: WIS 29 is reduced to a single lane of traffic controlled by temporary traffic signals at the Red Cedar River Bridge in Menomonie.
  • Dunn County: WIS 170 is reduced to a single lane of traffic controlled by temporary traffic signals at the Red Cedar River Bridge in Colfax.
  • Eau Claire County: I-94 between the US 53 interchange and Mallard Road southwest of Eau Claire is open to two lanes of traffic each way. Watch for reduced speed limits and temporary eastbound traffic lanes in a portion of the work zone.
  • Rusk County: US 8 is restricted to a single lane of traffic at Little Soft Maple Creek southwest of Bruce controlled by temporary traffic signals.
  • St. Croix County: I-94 on the St. Croix River bridges between Hudson and Lakeland, Minn., is open to two lanes of westbound and two lanes of eastbound traffic on the westbound bridge and two lanes of eastbound traffic – one through lane and one auxiliary lane between the MN 95 on-ramp and WIS 35 off-ramp – on the eastbound bridge. Watch for reduced speed limits.
  • St. Croix County: Watch for a reduced speed limit on eastbound I-94 before and after 100th Street and Kinney Road between Hudson and Roberts.
  • Sawyer County: WIS 77 at the Teal River northeast of Hayward is reduced to a single lane of traffic controlled by temporary traffic signals.

Southeast Wisconsin

  • Milwaukee County: Motorists can expect lane closures and various ramp closures along I-94, between 70th Street and 25th Street. I-94 will remain open to at least two lanes in each direction along the corridor. Expect slower traffic in this area.
  • Milwaukee County: Motorists can expect various ramp and lane closures along I-41, between Silver Spring Drive and Good Hope Road. I-41 will remain open to at least two lanes in each direction. Expect slower traffic in this area.
  • Milwaukee County: A single lane of I-43 southbound, between Good Hope Road and Silver Spring Drive, is closed. Two lanes of southbound I-43 remain open in this corridor.
  • Milwaukee County: The I-43 and Becher Street interchange is closed. Motorists are encouraged to use the nearby Lapham Boulevard interchange to get around the closure.
  • Waukesha County: The I-43 Rock Freeway, between WIS 83 and WIS 164, is reduced to one lane in each direction.

Southwest Wisconsin

Do your part to keep work zones safe

Motorists should always be prepared to encounter traffic changes when approaching work zones including reduced speed limits, lane shifts and slow or stopped traffic. To keep everyone safe, drivers must:

  • Buckle Up, Phone Down – every trip, every time. Encourage family, friends and co-workers to take the pledge.
  • Leave the phone alone. Texting while driving is illegal statewide and using a hand-held mobile device is prohibited in work zones.
  • Follow posted speed limits. Fines double in work zones.
  • Do the zipper merge to keep traffic moving during lane restrictions.
  • Move over or slow down. Give space to crews to safely do their work.
    • State law includes police and fire vehicles, ambulances, tow trucks, highway maintenance and disabled vehicles. In addition, state law restricts the 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.
  • Be patient. Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.

Visit WisDOT’s work zone safety webpage for more tips and information.

Travel info on Wisconsin highways

Wisconsinites and visitors are encouraged to “know before you go” and access real-time information on travel conditions, live traffic cameras, work zones and incidents across Wisconsin:

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.

Motorists may encounter the WisDOT Safety Patrol, sponsored by GEICO, along sections of I-41 in Brown and Outagamie counties, I-41 and I-94 in Milwaukee County, I-39/90/94 in Columbia County and I-94 in St. Croix County. The fleet of specially equipped vehicles help manage highway incidents within major construction work zones to keep everyone safe. Coverage hours vary, but most coverage is seven days per week, up to 14 hours per day. Learn more about the WisDOT Safety Patrol.

Wisconsin safety rest areas are open and these facilities offer restrooms, amenities and a break from travel. View the interactive map of WisDOT’s roadside facilities.