The State Department of Transportation may be providing some relief to a nearly 100 mile detour stemming from Interstate 94. Transportation Secretary Frank Busalaachi told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, DOT officials have secured an emergency contract to hire a company to build a crossover lane that would allow one lane to go eastbound, while another goes westbound. Busalaachi said the work may be completed by the end of the week. Currently the westbound stretch from Delafield to Lake Mills is shut down due to high waters from the Rock and Crawfish rivers in Jefferson County. Eastbound is open but suffers a lane closure.
The recommended I-94 detour of Milwaukee to Madison, goes south on State Highway 83 to Beloit and back north to Madison. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service predicts the two rivers may begin receding Tuesday but may remain above their historic highs for at least seven more days.
Travel in Jefferson County is not recommended, due to flooding on roads and bridges. The National Guard has been deployed in the area to assist in traffic. In some parts, troops are allowing access to persons only if absolutely necessary. As much as twenty mile detours are being reported for trips that normally take one mile.
Click here for a map of DOT closures.
