Cable barriers will finally be coming to Highway 16 between Delafield and Oconomowoc

Rainy weather has delayed the installation of cable barriers on Highway 16.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the work will likely begin the week of May 28 and conclude in July. The work had originally been planned to start in April.

The cable barriers will be installed in two segments: from southbound Highway P to 5,000 feet east of Highway C, and Wisconsin Avenue to I-94.

Once completed, the roadway will see its speed limit raised to 70 mph. The project will begin on the west end near Highway P.

The installation of the cable guards is a statewide effort to address crossover crashes. In recent years, there have been several fatal crashes on Highway 16 in which cars crossed the median and struck oncoming traffic.

On Nov. 8, 2015, Kent Girmscheid, 24, of Pewaukee, was killed when his eastbound vehicle went out of control, crossed the median and struck a westbound minivan driven by Jon Elertson of Watertown.

Elertson's wife, Joann, 68, died from injuries she sustained when their vehicle was struck a second time by another westbound vehicle moments later.

On Sept. 8, 2013, in the same area, an eastbound automobile driven by Glenda Skaleck, 51, of West Bend lost control and crossed the median, colliding head-on with a vehicle driven by Nicholas Rindt of New Berlin. Rindt's two children, Sam, 6, and Amie, 7, were with him.

Skaleck and her passenger, Karen Gully, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Amie Rindt suffered serious permanent brain and spine injuries that have required multiple surgeries and medical procedures.