PHOTO: Courtesy of WLUK
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A record-breaking number of people are hitting the roads this week.
AAA projects nearly 1.6 million Wisconsinites will travel during July 4th week, and more than 70.9 million people around the U.S. are expected to travel 50 miles or more away from home.
“With Wednesday right before the holiday is when we are going to be seeing a lot more traffic on the roadway, so you’re going to have holiday traffic mixing with the commuter traffic,” says Mark Kantola with the Green Bay Wisconsin DOT office.
“That is going to put a heavy burden on our system especially some of the spots we have here in Northeast Wisconsin with lane closures,” he continues.
Kantola says travelers will be heading in every direction, and if you’re taking I-41, plan ahead by checking your routes on 511WI.gov.
“41 in Winnebago and Outagamie counties, there are lane drops. Typically during the daytime were seeing 8-10 minute delays during the morning and evening commute,” says Kantola. “You put that traffic with the holiday traffic and you’re looking at some sizeable backups that could occur.”
The best and worst times to hit the road for the holiday weekend are:
Wednesday, July 3
- Best: Before noon
- Worst: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Thursday, July 4
- Best: Before noon
- Worst: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Friday, July 5
- Best: Before 10 a.m.
- Worst: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Saturday, July 6
- Best: Before 10 a.m.
- Worst: 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 7
- Best: Before 11 a.m.
- Worst: 2 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Monday, July 8
- Best: After 7 p.m.
- Worst: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Construction zones
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation says most projects will pause over the holiday weekend, but drivers may still encounter road and lane closures.
Here are construction zones in Northeast Wisconsin:
- Outagamie and Winnebago counties: Northbound I-41 is reduced to two lanes between Main Street and US 10/WIS 441 in the Fox Valley area. Significant delays are expected and drivers should consider alternate routes. Watch for lane shifts and reduced speed limits.
- Brown County: WIS 172 is closed to through traffic between WIS 54 in the village of Hobart and the Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport. Through traffic is detoured via WIS 54 and I-41.
- Outagamie County: WIS 15 is closed to through traffic between US 45 in the city of New London and County T in the village of Hortonville. Traffic is detoured via US 45, County TT and County T.
- Outagamie County: WIS 54 is closed at the WIS 55/County C/Ivory Street intersection in downtown Seymour. Traffic is detoured via WIS 47, Outagamie County G, and Mainline Drive.
- Outagamie County: WIS 76 is closed to through traffic between US 45 in the town of Bear Creek and WIS 54 in Shiocton. Follow the detour route via WIS 54 and US 45.
- Outagamie County: WIS 76 is closed at the WIS 76 and School Road intersection in Greenville. Traffic is detoured via WIS 96, Outagamie County CB, and WIS 15.
- Outagamie County: WIS 96 is closed to through between WIS 55 in Kaukauna and Outagamie County U in Wrightstown. Drivers should follow the signed detour via WIS 55, I-41 and County U.
- Outagamie and Waupaca County: WIS 76 near Bear Creek are closed between US 45 and WIS 54. Traffic is detoured via WIS 54 and US 45.
- Shawano County: WIS 117 in Bonduel is closed between South Street and Shawano County BE. Traffic is detoured via WIS 29, WIS 55, and WIS 52.
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