I-94 expansion prep work begins; restaurants prepare for detours

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Monday marks the start of an interstate expansion project that will impact Milwaukee drivers for nearly a decade.

For the last 15 years, Blue’s Egg and Bakery has served breakfast and lunch on Bluemound Road. With road closures expected to take place from I-94 expansion construction, co-owner Dan Sidner hopes they’ll be here for 15 more.

“The five years we’ve just been through with Covid, we’re pretty good at adapting,” said Sidner. 

This week, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation is focused on preliminary work – essentially preparing the road for the construction work that will begin. Road closures won’t go into effect until next Monday.

“They’ve really made big changes to Hawley. That’s going to be completely different traffic flow,” said Sidner.

The full Hawley interchange will become a half interchange, with access to and from the west only by 2028.

“It’s a long time,” said Sidner.

Sidner says with detours in place, Bluemound Road will become busier, and hopefully, Blue’s Egg as well.

“This is not something that we're going to run a coupon for a week and hope it all works out,” said Sidner.

Sidner says the restaurant plans to amp up their marketing and to-go orders for the bakery just in case. Despite the lane closures, Sidner says this could mean more growth and investments throughout the city.

“Once this interstate is through, the great hope, to me, the obvious being the center of the city of Milwaukee and the Milwaukee metro area, there should be more building, more business along this corridor,” said Sidner.

As for Blue’s Egg, Sidner hopes whoever might be stuck in traffic chooses to make the best of it here.

“Don’t deal with it. Just come in and sit, and have a drink and enjoy,” said Sidner.