Temporary portable rumble strips will be used on about a dozen state transportation improvement projects to alert/slow down motorists entering construction zones

Last year, Wisconsin recorded 2,404 work zone crashes that resulted in 945 injuries and 12 fatalities. To enhance the safety of highway workers and motorists, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is implementing use of temporary portable rumble strips on a dozen state highway improvement projects scheduled for this construction season. The rumble strips provide an audible and vibratory warning to motorists entering a construction zone and have helped to reduce speeds and crashes in work zones in other states.

“Too often, drivers ignore signs telling them they’re entering a construction zone,” said WisDOT Work Zone Operations Engineer Erin Schoon. “Rumble strips are hard to ignore, and send a potentially life-saving message that drivers need to slow down and be extra cautious.”

The temporary portable rumble strips will be used on days when flaggers are working along roadways directing traffic. Signs will alert motorists of the upcoming work zone and installation of the temporary rumble strips. Typically, six rumble strips are placed at each end of the work zone.

While workers are especially vulnerable, the majority of fatalities and injuries in work zone crashes involve motorists. Common factors in work zone crashes include drivers that are distracted or driving too fast for conditions.

“This construction season, we’ll be using temporary portable rumble strips on certain projects where flagging operations are taking place,” Schoon said. “Still, our hope is that every time a driver approaches any construction zone, they’ll be alert for workers and for slowing traffic.”

2016 state highway construction projects expected to utilize temporary, portable rumble strips during flagging operations

• Buffalo County, WIS 88, from County E to County U, roadway maintenance, mill and overlay
• Calumet County, WIS 32, from New Holstein to Chilton, roadway maintenance, mill and overlay
• Dane County, WIS 19, from WIS 113 to River Road, milling and resurfacing of a paved shoulder, and applying a friction treatment to the two-lane roadway
• Dodge County, US 151/WIS 49 interchange, mill and overlay of the US 151 ramps and WIS 49 under US 151
• Pierce County, WIS 72, from US 63 to County BB, roadway maintenance, mill and overlay
• Pierce County, WIS 29, from WIS 65 to US 63, roadway maintenance, mill and overlay
• Portage County, WIS 49, from Cedar Road to Lake View Road, roadway maintenance
• Racine County, WIS 38, from County K to the north county line, centerline and shoulder rumble strip installation, pavement repair and marking
• Racine County, WIS 11/Durand Avenue, from County C to 71st Drive, roadway maintenance, asphaltic milling and overlay
• Taylor County, WIS 13, from WIS 102 to the north county line, roadway maintenance, mill and overlay
• Walworth County, WIS 120, from the Illinois state line to Willow Road, roadway maintenance, asphaltic milling and overlay
• Washington County, WIS 167/Friess Lake intersection, intersection improvements and  friction surface treatment