Headed to MN? Get ready for traffic

If you’ll be among the thousands of Wisconsinites headed north and west to watch the Badgers play the Gophers on Saturday or the Packers play the Vikings Monday or to search out peak fall colors in northern Wisconsin, be prepared for heavy traffic, especially around work zones, the states' Departments of Transportation said.

Several work zones will have an impact on Border Battle weekend travel:

• I-39/90/94 in Columbia County:  Installation of median barriers and repaving lanes has reduced traffic from three lanes in each direction to two on I-39/90/94 from the north Dane County line to WIS 60.  Significant delays are expected Friday (10/2) and Sunday afternoons.
• I-90/94 between Tomah and Camp Douglas: No weekend lane restrictions but Monday, and each week night, traffic will be reduced to a single lane from 7 p.m. until 10 a.m.
• I-94 from Tomah to Black River Falls: No weekend lane restrictions, but starting Monday at 6 a.m. traffic will be reduced to a single lane.  Lane restriction will last until 10 a.m. Friday.
• US 51/WIS 29 in the Wausau area:  Motorists may encounter lane closures Monday night for pavement marking.
• WIS 29 between Cadott and Chippewa County XX: Single lane closure westbound.
• I-94 in Minnesota between the St. Croix River and MN 120 at St. Paul: 
  • From Friday (10/2) at 7 p.m. through 8 a.m. Saturday, westbound I-94 will be reduced to one lane between County Highway 19 (Woodbury Drive) and Highway 120 (Century Ave.).  Expect congestion.  Motorists are advised to plan ahead or seek alternate routes to avoid delays.
  • Saturday (10/3) afternoon and evening the right lane of eastbound I-94 will be closed between Radio Drive and the Minnesota/Wisconsin state line. 
  • Eastbound lane closures between Highway 120 and the Minnesota/Wisconsin state line likely will occur on Sunday, October 4 and Monday, October 5. 

All work is weather-dependent.

Both departments of transportation recommend travelers give themselves additional travel time.  They also encourage travelers to visit the states’ Web sites before heading out: 

Wisconsin: www.511wi.gov

Minnesota: www.511mn.org

Traveler information is also available by dialing 511.