The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →A planned 54-hour closure of Interstate 41/US 45 in both directions between Watertown Plank Road and Burleigh Street was delayed because thunderstorms were in the forecast. Wisconsin’s Department of Transportation (WisDOT) first moved the July 22–25, 2022, operation to the following weekend, then scheduled it for 11 p.m. Friday, July 29, through 5 a.m. Monday, August 1. The closure supported the Zoo Interchange North Leg project’s placement of two Union Pacific Railroad bridge girders.
Why the I-41 closure was delayed
WisDOT said the original construction window could not proceed as planned because the forecast included potential thunderstorms. The agency explained that storms would require the beam-setting operation to be postponed, delaying the work by at least one week. The task was weather dependent because lifting and positioning exceptionally large bridge members requires a controlled, safe work zone and reliable conditions.
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The first plan called for a complete closure from 11 p.m. Friday, July 22, until 5 a.m. Monday, July 25, 2022. After the weather-related postponement, WisDOT issued a second notice setting the work for 11 p.m. Friday, July 29, through 5 a.m. Monday, August 1. The later notice again warned that weather could affect the schedule.
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The closure applied to both directions of I-41/US 45 between the Watertown Plank Road and Burleigh Street interchanges. Drivers could not use this freeway segment during the overnight Friday start through the Monday morning reopening time.
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| Item | Original plan | Revised plan |
|---|---|---|
| Closure period | 11 p.m. Friday, July 22, to 5 a.m. Monday, July 25, 2022 | 11 p.m. Friday, July 29, to 5 a.m. Monday, August 1, 2022 |
| Freeway limits | Both I-41/US 45 directions, Watertown Plank Road to Burleigh Street | Same limits |
| Primary detour | WIS 100 (Mayfair Road) | WIS 100 (Mayfair Road) |
| Construction activity | Place Union Pacific Railroad bridge beams for the Zoo Interchange North Leg | Place the same bridge beams; schedule remained weather dependent |
Recommended detour and travel advice
Use WIS 100/Mayfair Road
WisDOT identified WIS 100, also known as Mayfair Road, as the primary signed detour around the closed freeway segment. Because traffic was being moved off I-41/US 45 onto a major surface route, the agency warned travelers to expect delays.
Allow additional time or select another route
Travelers crossing the affected area were advised to leave extra time and consider an alternate route if WIS 100 did not fit their trip. The closure covered an entire weekend, including periods when construction traffic and ordinary regional travel could overlap. Checking conditions before departure was especially important because the beam work could be rescheduled again if storms threatened the revised window.
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What the construction crew was doing
Setting Union Pacific Railroad bridge girders
The full closure created room to place two support beams—also called girders—for a Union Pacific Railroad bridge over I-41/US 45. The operation was part of the Zoo Interchange North Leg project, not routine pavement maintenance. Closing every lane in both directions protected motorists and the construction team while the large members were moved into position.
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Why the lifts required a full freeway shutdown
WisDOT spokesman Mike Pyritz described the members as the project’s “pinch point.” In a 2022 statement quoted by WISN, he said: “These beams are absolutely huge; two of them are 115 feet long, 12 feet high, 30 feet across and weigh 190,000 pounds each.” Those dimensions and weights explain why crews needed a clear work area, heavy lifting equipment and a continuous closure rather than short rolling lane restrictions.
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What changed—and what did not
- Changed: the calendar moved from the July 22–25 weekend to July 29–August 1, 2022, after the thunderstorm forecast triggered the first postponement.
- Stayed the same: the closure limits, both travel directions, the WIS 100/Mayfair Road detour and the bridge-beam placement objective.
- Still uncertain: the revised notice remained weather dependent, so the timing was subject to another change if conditions became unsafe.
When the roadway reopened
The rescheduled plan targeted reopening at 5 a.m. Monday, August 1, 2022. That time marked the end of the announced weekend closure, although drivers should rely on current WisDOT traffic information for any future work in the corridor rather than assume that a historical schedule still applies.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why this weekend mattered to the interchange project
Placing the two girders was a major structural step in the Zoo Interchange North Leg project. Once positioned, the beams would form the primary support elements for the Union Pacific Railroad bridge spanning the freeway. The unusually large lifts made the weekend closure a critical coordination point: traffic control, weather monitoring, rail-bridge construction and freeway operations all had to align within one 54-hour window.
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