Memorial Day 2019: I-94 and Wisconsin Highway Traffic Guide

MILWAUKEE, WI — Memorial Day traffic in Wisconsin involves a couple major groups of travelers: those who are packing up and heading up north for a bit of respite, and those who have to wrestle with Chicago traffic in order to head to other parts of the country.

Peak travel times in the Milwaukee Metro area are expected to occur between noon and 8 p.m. on Friday and Monday. Construction in most highway work zones will stop by noon on Friday and will not resume until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28. While workers will open as many lanes as possible, motorists still need to be patient, alert and watch their speed.

Significant road construction projects that may impact Memorial Day weekend travel:

• Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha counties: I-41/94 has an 18.5-mile-long construction work zone. There are three lanes available in both directions but some of the areas have narrow lanes and lane shifts. Southbound traffic has limited access to and from the Interstate. WIS 20 is the only full-service interchange available between Ryan Road and WIS 142. The entire length of the project has a reduced speed limit of 60 mph.

• Dane and Rock counties: Motorists on I-39/90 and I-43 near Beloit should be alert for lane shifts, crossovers, and reduced speeds.

• Dane County: Verona Road (US 18/151) motorists should be alert for lane shifts, turn restrictions, and reduced speeds.

• Dane and Columbia counties: Northbound US 151 from Sun Prairie to Columbus is reduced to a single lane.

• Monroe County: I-90 is reduced to one lane in each direction between Sparta and Tomah. The speed limit is reduced to 55 mph.

• Winnebago, Calumet and Outagamie counties: Eastbound and westbound US 10 have reduced lanes and lane shifts. The speed limit in the WIS 441 work zone is reduced to 55 mph.

• Fond du Lac County: US 45 in the village of Eden is closed to through traffic. Detour uses US 151, I-41 and WIS 28.

• Manitowoc County/City of Manitowoc: US 10 (Waldo Boulevard) is closed between 8th Street and Maritime Drive in the city of Manitowoc. WIS 42 is closed at Waldo Boulevard in the city of Manitowoc.
  • Eastbound US 10 will be detoured at the I-43/US 151 intersection. Detour will follow US 151 to the intersection with US 10.
  • Westbound US 10 will be detoured at intersection with US 151. Traffic will be detoured via US 151 and I-43.
  • Eastbound WIS 42 will be detoured at the intersection with I-43. Detour will follow I-43 and WIS 310.
  • Westbound WIS 42 will be detoured at the intersection with WIS 310. Detour will follow WIS 310 and I-43.

• Vilas County: US 51/WIS 47 in the towns of Woodruff and Arbor Vitae is reduced to one lane in each direction with a 12-foot-width restriction.

• Portage County: Business 51 in the villages of Plover and Whiting is reduced to one lane in each direction with a 12-foot-width restriction.

• Marquette County: WIS 23 in the city of Montello is closed to through traffic as the roadway is reconstructed. Traffic is detoured via I-39, WIS 21, and WIS 22.

• Wood County: WIS 97 (Central Avenue) in Marshfield is reduced to one lane in each direction with a 12-foot-width restriction.

• Marathon County: The Marathon County WW bridge in the village of Maine will be reduced to one 10 ½-foot-wide lane with the use of temporary signals.

• Buffalo County: The WIS 35 bridges just south of Fountain City will be reduced to a single 11-foot lane with the use of temporary signals.

• Barron County: WIS 25 will be closed between US 8 and WIS 48. Detour uses US 8, US 53, and WIS 48.

• Sawyer County: WIS 27 in Hayward is restricted to two lanes for resurfacing.

• Sawyer County: US 63 between Hayward and Seeley is closed and detoured via WIS 77 and County OO.

For up-to-the-minute information on work zones and incidents that may affect highway travel, motorists can access the state’s 511 travel information system by:

• Downloading the free 511 Wisconsin mobile app
• Following @511WI on Twitter
• Dialing 511
• Visiting 511wi.gov on the web.

Nationwide Trends This Memorial Day Weekend

Nationwide, the worst traffic congestion will occur late afternoons on Thursday and Friday, May 23 and 24. Many U.S. workers will leave their jobs early and mix with holiday traffic, creating a perfect storm for an afternoon commute that could sour your mood before the start of the Saturday through Monday holiday.

“Drivers in the most congested metros should expect much worse conditions than normal,” Trevor Reed, transportation analyst, INRIX, said in a news release. “Travelers should anticipate delays to start on Wednesday and continue through Memorial Day. Our advice to drivers is to avoid the morning and evening commuting times or plan alternate routes.”

Triple-A says 2019 will see the second-highest Memorial Day weekend traffic by volume since it started keeping track in 2000 and the most travelers since 2005. Overall, there will be 1.5 million more people traveling by car, train or plane than there were in 2018, for an increase of 3.6 percent.

Those traveling by automobile are doing so despite a rising national gas price average close to $3 a gallon. The national average for a gallon of gasoline was $2.86 on May 14, which compares to last year’s national average of $2.87 a gallon on the same date a year ago.

“When gas prices are expensive, travelers may shorten the distance of a road trip, eat out less or look for free activities,” AAA gas price expert Jeanette Casselano said in the release. “But, overall, prices are very similar to this time last year and, like then, they aren’t letting that deter them from taking summer road trips.”

The auto club said 3.25 million people will fly to their Memorial Day destinations, 4.8 percent more than last year. It will be the busiest holiday in the skies since 2005.

About 1.9 million people, an increase of 3.8 percent over last year, will travel by train, bus or cruise ship, according to the release.

And though gas prices are increasing, car rental and hotel rates are down a bit this Memorial Day. AAA’s Leisure Travel Index shows car rental prices are down 7 percent, compared to last year, with an average daily rate of $55. Mid-range hotels are between 2 percent and 3 percent cheaper this year, with an average nightly rate of $146 and $183, respectively for the AAA Two and Three Diamond-rated properties.

Airfares are holding steady compared to last Memorial Day with an average roundtrip price of $171, Triple-A said.