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Southeast WI Freeway System

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

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 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-43 North-South Corridor

The I-43 North-South Freeway is among the busiest routes in Wisconsin and is a critical Interstate link between southeast Wisconsin and the entire state. I-43 provides access to manufacturers, merchants, commuters and tourists within southeast Wisconsin, the Milwaukee metropolitan area, and other areas including Green Bay, Sheboygan, Manitowoc and Chicago.

WisDOT has maintained and rehabilitated the ramps, bridges, pavements and other structures on I-43 for 50 years. The North-South Freeway has exceeded its design life and it is no longer economical to maintain. The corridor needs full evaluation, so it can serve the communities into the future.

I-94 North-South corridor

• 2009 - Construction started
• 2022 - Construction scheduled to be completed

I-94 East-West Study

WisDOT is initiating an environmental and engineering analysis of the I-94 East-West Freeway Corridor. The project will cover approximately 2.85 miles of I-94 between 70th Street and 25th Street in Milwaukee County. The project includes one system interchange (US 41/WIS 341/Miller Parkway) and six service interchanges (70th Street/68th Street, Hawley Road, Mitchell Boulevard, 35th Street, 26th Street/St. Paul Avenue, and West Wisconsin Avenue/Wells Street).

Zoo Interchange

2007 - WisDOT is currently undertaking 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.

• 2013-2014 - Improvements to adjacent major roadways scheduled to start
• 2015-2018 - Reconstruction of interchange scheduled to start

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Questions about the content of this page:
Lindsay Schmidt, ser.dtsd@dot.wi.gov
Last modified: August 15, 2012