MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- In just five days, construction will begin to widen I-94.

Initial plans to widen I-94 began in 2017 under then-Governor Scott Walker but were paused because of concerns about funding. Now, in less than a week, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) will break ground on the project — meaning many Milwaukeeans will have to change their daily commute.

During rush hour, drivers can often find themselves sitting in the congested I-94. The state’s Department of Transportation hopes to change that with its east-west expansion.

“We’re going to reconstruct I-94 from basically 70th Street to just west of the Marquette Interchange,” said Sean Race, construction and engineering supervisor for WisDOT.

The project would turn 3.5 miles of I-94 from six to eight lanes between 70th Street and 16th Street.

“The current federal packaging estimate is $1.7 billion,” said Race.

Work on the west leg segment is expected to start next Monday, with road closures taking effect the following week. Some of the closures include a long-term closure of the Hawley Road interchange. Drivers can also expect a long-term closure of the 68th Street on-ramp going eastbound.

“Be patient through this,” said Race. “Obviously, sometimes these projects take longer as we do try to keep things open and traffic.”

The construction isn’t without controversy.

“There is an active lawsuit pending and I can’t comment on that right now,” said Race.

Environmental and community groups have raised concerns about the expansion impacting floodwaters, but WisDOT maintains the expansion will help.

“The new freeway as expanded will have storm sewer that can accommodate more storm water runoff than the current system,” said Race.

It’s a nearly $2 billion project WisDOT says will make Milwaukee safer and easier to navigate.

“Our current freeway system, a lot of it was built in the early ’60s, and it’s at the end of its design life,” said Race.

For the west leg of the expansion, that phase of the project is expected to wrap up in 2028. Some of the lane closures could remain in place for at least two years.

As for the entire expansion to be completed, WisDOT estimates that’ll be around 2032.