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Southeast WI Freeway System

270 miles of freeways serve seven counties in southeast Wisconsin, with each carrying thousands of cars and trucks each day.

The southeast freeway system is the economic lifeline not only for the region, but for the entire state. Manufacturers in Milwaukee, tourism destinations in Door County, and commuters in Washington County depend on safe and efficient freeway connections.

The system also includes several freeway interchanges, providing access from one freeway to another. In Milwaukee County, four major interchanges serve as the hubs of the southeast freeway system:

• Marquette Interchange, linking I-43, I-94 and I-794 in downtown Milwaukee
• Zoo Interchange, connecting I-94, I-894 and US 45 in western Milwaukee County
• Hale Interchange, connecting I-43, I-894 and US 45 near Hales Corners
• Mitchell Interchange, linking I-43, I-94 and I-894 near General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee

Most of these freeways and interchanges were built in the 1950's and 1960's, meaning that the time for complete reconstruction is near. Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) has several initiatives underway to maintain and eventually rebuild the freeways in southeast Wisconsin.

I-94 North-South corridor

Late 2004, it was announced that the I-94 North-South corridor would be the next southeast freeway segment slated for reconstruction after the Marquette Interchange.

WisDOT recently completed the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to determine the ultimate needs for the corridor. May 30, 2008, the Federal Highway Administration approved the Final EIS and the project advanced into the final design stage.

Construction on the project started in 2009 and scheduled to be completed in 2016.

I-94 East-West Repaving Project

I-94 East-West Freeway, WIS 16 to 124th Street (Waukesha County) and 72nd Street to 32nd Street (Milwaukee County), is being repaved starting in 2011 and scheduled to be completed in 2012.

Zoo Interchange

Since 2007, WisDOT has undertaken an environmental and engineering analysis of the Zoo Interchange.

Currently the busiest interchange in the state, the Zoo Interchange plays a key role in moving commuters, retail customers, health care patients, freight and other movements to major commercial and institutional sites.

WisDOT has maintained and rehabilitated the ramps, bridges, pavements and other structures, but the interchange is nearing the end of its useful life. Now is the time to take the next steps to determine how the interchange should be rebuilt to ensure that it serves the economy for decades to come.

Comments on the Supplemental DEIS (SDEIS) were addressed in the Final (FEIS). FEIS was published Oct. 14, 2011.

• FEIS was available for review and comment. (Note - Comments were due Nov. 14, 2011)

Corridor study phase of the project is complete.

Design, real estate acquisition and relocation of utilities is scheduled to start fall 2011, after the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issues its Record of Decision (ROD) on the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).

Improvements to adjacent major roadways are scheduled to start 2013-2014 with the reconstruction of the interchange scheduled to start 2015-2018.

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Questions about the content of this page, contact:
Emlynn Grisar, ser.dtsd@dot.wi.gov
Last modified: February 2, 2012