Construction for controversial I-94 expansion begins in less than 2 weeks

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The I-94 East-West widening project in Milwaukee will begin initial work in just 11 days, but there’s some environmental and community groups who have filed a federal lawsuit to stop this expansion.

The project would cover 3.5 miles of I-94 between 70th Street and 16th Street, turning it from six lanes to eight lanes, as well as fixing numerous safety issues.

“There are too many interchanges and exits and on ramps and off ramps in too short a distance,” said Dennis Grzezinski. 

Grzezinski is a lawyer representing three of the four environmental and community groups who have filed a federal lawsuit objecting to the expansion. 

“Overall, the project will turn about 54 acres what is not highway land into highway land,” said Grzezinski. 

The West Leg segment, which is expected to start construction in just 11 days, will expand I-94 to four lanes in each direction between 70th Street and Zablocki Dr. It will also reconstruct the Hawley Rd. interchange as a half-interchange - $121 million has been approved for this leg of the expansion. 

Although a lawsuit has been filed against this project, WisDOT owns some land near the west leg segment.

“They are not legally prevented from proceeding with this construction,” said Grzezinski.

Grzezinski says the expansion could have large environmental effects, including flooding.

“About half of that will be added paved surface using, among other things, land that is already needed and is gonna be needed in the future for storm water management,” said Grzezinski. 

He says historically, traffic congestion is only temporarily fixed by expanding lanes, making this a short-term solution.

“You’re back to the similar congestion you started with after spending oodles and oodles of money,” said Grzezinski.

There will be long term closures of the Hawley Road interchange, the southbound WIS 175 system ramp to westbound I-94, the 68th St. entrance ramp to eastbound I-94 and a 30-day closure of the southbound WIS 175 exit ramp to Frederick Miller Way.

There will also be single lane closures in each direction of I-94 between 70th St. and Zablocki Dr.

As for the lawsuit, Grzezinski says a federal judge has not made a ruling yet. 

CBS 58 reached out to WisDOT for comment on the lawsuit and environmental concerns but has not heard back.