The DOT is taking steps to make rural roads safer - WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and Sports

Eau Claire (WQOW) - In August, the Department of Transportation will start installing rumble strips along the center line of rural roads. The strips are similar to those you would see on the shoulder of an interstate. 

Almost 500 miles of highway in Wisconsin will have the new strips.  The DOT is putting them in areas with the highest number of crashes, that often happen when cars drift over the center line.

Nicole Passuello, an Advanced Civil Engineer for the DOT, says, "The hope is that we can reduce our fatal and injury crashes by a significant amount. Studies have shown that the center line rumble strips specifically can reduce the number of crashes by 44 percent."

The work will be done to the following locations in our area:

Barron County Hwy. 63 -Turtle Lake to Cumberland

Barron County Hwy. 8 -Cameron to Co. Line

Rusk County Hwy. 8 -Co. Line to Bruce

St. Croix County Hwy. 65 -Hwy. 12 to G

Trempealeau County - parts of Highways 93, 95, 53

Eau Claire County Hwy. 12 -Altoona to Fall Creek

This is the first time rumble strips have been added to the center lines of rural highways in Wisconsin.