Department of Transportation officials say the long stretch of I-94 closure could be opened to through traffic by the end of this week.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced it was beginning a nearly $900,000 emergency construction project for the 4-mile stretch of road between Johnson Creek and Lake Mills.

The construction began early this week and will create two-way traffic (one lane each way) in the normal eastbound lanes, allowing vehicles to crossover and nudge together near the Johnson Creek Outlet Mall and travel for several miles before opening back up to the full interstate near Lake Mills.

The bidirectional traffic lanes will be separated by median wands, while the northern portion of the road – the normal westbound lanes – will remain closed until water recedes.

Plans call for speed limits to slow to 55 miles per hour and even 45 miles per hour in some areas.

City of Oconomowoc - Oconomowoc Police Cheif Dave Beghun stated that he awaiting a call from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for the city's assistance in closing down westbound traffic access to I-94 at the Highway 67 interchange as part of a bigger effort to close down the interstate's westbound traffic from Highway 83 in Delafield to to Highway 26 in Jefferson County as flooding continues to reach roadways.

The detour will direct drivers south to I-43 to Beloit where they can get on I-90 and head north toward Madison.

The duration of the closure is not yet known.