I-90 from Beloit to Madison

[MNtraveler]

This road is mediocre at best. It is heavily under construction, and it desperately needs repair. Some area are OK at 60-65 mph but in several areas the pavement is so bad you will have to slow to 50 or even 45 with flashers on to hold your RV together. Unfortunately, there is no "rough road ahead" warning and you are into the slam/bang zone before you can even react. After Madison things improve considerably.

US-51 which runs mostly parallel may be an alternate route, but I haven't driven it so can't rate it.


Land of 10,000 Lakes
2016 Forester MBS 2401R
Nights camped 2016: 29; RV to date: 32

[jeff64]

I know what you are speaking of. Another rough stretch is I-43 from Port Washington to Green Bay. Two wks. ago, I lost the wiring cover out of my Dometic awning due to vibrating it's way down and out of the channel!

[Wiscampsin]

Wisconsin has only 2 seasons, winter and road construction.

[Iwritecode]

Originally Posted by Wiscampsin

Wisconsin has only 2 seasons, winter and road construction.

Nah, there's still 4: Almost winter, winter, still winter, construction.

[Jeff_and_Abby]

For what it's worth ... the KOA on the northern outskirts of Madison, WI ... right off I-90 - has a couple fenced dog runs.

Minnesota has the same two seasons, Snow and Road Destruction.

Coming from Chicago, I make the assertion that the Tri-State is CONTINUOUSLY under construction. At least what I know from 55 years of driving in and around Chicago-Land ...

[GL1800Rider]

[QUOTE=MNtraveler Some area are OK at 60-65 mph but in several areas the pavement is so bad you will have to slow to 50 or even 45 with flashers on to hold your RV together.[/QUOTE]

Just an FYI, in most states it is illegal to drive down the road with your flashers on. They are only to be used if you are broke down and not moving.

[keith_h]

Originally Posted by Jeff_and_Abby

Coming from Chicago, I make the assertion that the Tri-State is CONTINUOUSLY under construction. At least what I know from 55 years of driving in and around Chicago-Land ...

When we go back to visit the DW's family I always tell them that due to the construction the tollways don't look any different to us than they did when we moved away in 1982. That goes right down to the potholes.

[RamblerGuy]

Originally Posted by GL1800Rider

Just an FYI, in most states it is illegal to drive down the road with your flashers on. They are only to be used if you are broke down and not moving.

In South Carolina, state law requires trucks to use four way flashers when they are traveling significantly slower than traffic. It's on the CDL written test and you'd better know it during the driving test. I've seen it done in many states.

[PSU Turf]

That stretch of I-90 will be rebuilt and widened very soon. It is about the only highway project in WI that isn't getting put on the back burner. We have to accommodate all of the traffic from Chicago heading to Wisconsin Dells every weekend.

[rockfordroo]

I'm hoping they will do more asphalt and less concrete. The expansion joints on that road are at just the right distance to create a resonance in my truck/trailer combination. Ka-chunk, ka-chunk, ka-chunk, ka-chunk.

[PSU Turf]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

I'm hoping they will do more asphalt and less concrete. The expansion joints on that road are at just the right distance to create a resonance in my truck/trailer combination. Ka-chunk, ka-chunk, ka-chunk, ka-chunk.

That resonance can give you a headache after a while. It's supposed to be a total rebuild so it will be concrete.

[MNtraveler]

Originally Posted by GL1800Rider

Just an FYI, in most states it is illegal to drive down the road with your flashers on. They are only to be used if you are broke down and not moving.

Minnesota law provides:

169.64, subd. 3. Flashing lights. Flashing lights are prohibited, except on an authorized emergency vehicle, school bus, bicycle as provided in section 169.222, subdivision 6, road maintenance equipment, tow truck or towing vehicle, service vehicle, farm tractor, self-propelled farm equipment, rural mail carrier vehicle, funeral home vehicle, or on any vehicle as a means of indicating a right or left turn, or the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring unusual care in approaching, overtaking, or passing.

I checked Wisconsin statutes for comparison:

347.26(11). Flashing warning lamps.
(a) Any vehicle may be equipped with lamps which may be used for the purpose of warning the operators of other vehicles of the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring the exercise of unusual care in approaching, overtaking or passing, and when so equipped may display such warning in addition to any other warning signals required by this section. The lamps used to display such warning to the front shall be mounted at the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable, and shall display simultaneously flashing white or amber lights, or any shade of color between white and amber. The lamps used to display such warning to the rear shall be mounted at the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable, and shall show simultaneously flashing amber or red lights, or any shade of color between amber and red. These warning lights shall be visible from a distance of not less than 500 feet under normal atmospheric conditions at night.


What you do find are restrictions with respect to the color of the lights (other than amber or white to the front and amber or red to the back) and with circular rotation flashing lights and similar items. Generally lights that are all-around red or that use blue or yellow flashing lights, or alternating lights that do not flash simultaneously, are typically reserved to official vehicles and special service vehicles such as tow trucks.

For as long as I've been driving, trucks, RVs and other vehicles that are driving particular slowly (such as uphill in a truck lane) will always display 4-way flashers. I would want to know if a vehicle ahead of me was traveling much lower than the posted speed limit, in sufficient time to adjust my speed or change lanes, and I certainly don't want anybody running into me from the back!


Land of 10,000 Lakes
2016 Forester MBS 2401R
Nights camped 2016: 29; RV to date: 32

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by PSU Turf

That resonance can give you a headache after a while. It's supposed to be a total rebuild so it will be concrete.

Just came down it last weekend. Most of it appears to be asphalt. Concrete seems to be just around Janesville.

[Jeff_and_Abby]

MN ... We have to watch out for that law which says you may not drive a red truck on Lake Street in Minneapolis. For real, that law exists, has been on the books for probably over a century. Then again ... there aren't so many camp sites in Uptown.
~ grin ~