CECIL, WI – As road construction continues in and around Cecil, Shawano County Sheriff George Lenzner is reminding motorists that detours, barricades, and road closure signs are in place for a reason.
Lenzner says drivers should follow designated detour routes rather than attempting to navigate through local roads or bypass construction zones.
“A lot of it involves weight issues and some of the side roads just aren’t built for a lot of traffic,” Lenzner said.
The sheriff noted that many of the roads being used as shortcuts were never designed to handle increased traffic volumes, particularly heavy trucks and commercial vehicles. He says ignoring posted detours can create safety concerns for residents, construction workers, and other motorists.
According to Lenzner, signs marked “Local Traffic Only” are intended for residents who live on those roads or individuals who have legitimate business along those routes.
“If it says local traffic only, that means people that live on that road or that have business on that road,” Lenzner said.
Officials have also seen motorists driving around barricades and attempting to travel through closed construction areas to reach destinations farther north.
“Not allowed to try to go that way just to get to their destination up in northern Wisconsin or something,” Lenzner said.
Lenzner emphasized that while detours may add a few extra minutes to a trip, they are designed to protect workers, residents, and the integrity of local roadways while construction projects are completed.
The sheriff also warned that heavy trucks using side roads can cause significant damage.
“You can have some serious road damage if you get one of these trucks or overweight trucks on some of these side roads,” he said.
Village officials continue encouraging residents and visitors to support Cecil businesses during the construction project. However, they are asking through traffic to remain on the posted detour routes to reduce congestion and improve safety throughout the community.
Officials say following the designated routes will help keep construction projects on schedule while minimizing disruptions for those who live and work in the area.
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