Deer hunters, holiday travelers and Packers’ fans will encounter fewer orange barrels

Although most major highway construction projects have concluded for the year, drivers may encounter some ongoing road work as well as heavy traffic during the Thanksgiving holiday, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT).

“Drivers generally won’t have to deal with detours on major highways due to construction projects, but there are some areas where lane restrictions and reduced speeds may still be in effect,” said Don Greuel, WisDOT chief project services engineer.

Traffic is expected to be heavy on Friday, November 20, as deer hunters begin to flock to the woods and again on Wednesday, November 25, when motorists travel to join friends and family for the Thanksgiving holiday. The Green Bay Packers will play the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving night at Lambeau Field, which will add to traffic volume.

The heavy holiday traffic may cause sudden and unexpected back-ups, so WisDOT officials advise drivers to slow down and pay attention. As always, everyone must drive sober and buckle up.

Motorists also should be prepared for inclement weather. Before traveling, they can check current road conditions, traffic delays and incident alerts by downloading the free 511 Wisconsin smartphone app, following @511WI on Twitter, or visiting www.511wi.gov.

Significant highway construction projects that may affect holiday travel include:

• Zoo Interchange in Milwaukee. The ramp from I-94 westbound to I-41/I-894 southbound remains closed.
• I-41 in Winnebago, Outagamie and Brown counties and WIS 441 over Little Lake Butte des Morts in Winnebago County. Lane restrictions and speed reductions will slow traffic.
• In Brown County, lane closure on I-43 northbound between the Leo Frigo Bridge and the I-41/43 interchange.
• In Green Bay, two ramps associated with the I-43/I-41 interchange are closed until September of 2016: the southbound I-41 to southbound I-43 ramp, and the northbound I-43 to southbound I-41 ramp. Marked detours are in place.
• In Dane County, work continues along Verona Road and the Madison Beltline.

Last year, six people died in traffic crashes in Wisconsin during the Thanksgiving holiday period, which runs from 6 p.m. on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving to midnight on the following Sunday.

To help prevent crashes, WisDOT will display traffic safety messages on its electronic signs on major freeways during the holiday period.

“This time of year, drivers need to be especially cautious because weather conditions can change rapidly, the hours of daylight decrease, and deer are extremely active,” says David Pabst, director of the WisDOT Bureau of Transportation Safety. “If drivers make responsible decisions, such as buckling up, slowing down, paying attention and driving sober, they can prevent crashes and help ensure a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving for everyone.”