In anticipation of the bustling Thanksgiving weekend, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation is dishing out some important advice for those planning to hit the road. WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman underscored the collective responsibility of making highway travel safe during the holidays. "We must work together to keep our roads safe – plan ahead, allow extra travel time, slow down, and avoid distractions. Safe driving choices save lives," Boardman said, as reported by WisDOT. Their "recipe" for roadway well-being includes the usual suspects: seat belts, a scoop of temperance, a hearty portion of respect for fellow travelers, a charged smartphone equipped with the 511 Wisconsin app, and not to be overlooked, a full gas tank coupled with a standby emergency kit.
About 1.65 million residents in Wisconsin are expected to swiftly travel over 50 miles from home during the festivities, according to AAA's figures. For those seeking to beat the crowds, times to possibly avoid include 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Black Friday, 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the following Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Given the forecasted winter weather, WisDOT suggests that travelers should regularly check resources such as the 511 Wisconsin app and other mediums to stay updated on the rapidly changing road and weather conditions.
Travel may be impacted due to remaining construction projects. In Brown and Outagamie counties on I-41 between Appleton and Green Bay, traffic is narrowed down to two lanes each way, with lane shifts and reduced speed limits in place. Likewise, Columbia County travelers will encounter three open lanes in each direction on the I-39/90/94 bridge over the Wisconsin River, just south of Portage, again with lane shifts and reduced speed limits. Milwaukee County has its share of constraints on I-94 from 70th Street to Zablocki Drive and on I-41 from Burleigh Street to Good Hope Road, both operating with at least two lanes and various ramp closures, resulting in slower traffic patterns, according to the WisDOT website.
Additional construction areas to note include a down-to-one-lane situation on I-43 in Rock County from Hart Road to the east Rock County line and a significant detour in Winnebago County, where the US 45/Main Street Bridge across the Fox River in Oshkosh is closed for construction. Vehicles and foot traffic are rerouted to the Jackson Street bridge until the projected completion in April 2026.
