New details revealed into I-94 expansion project

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) spent time answering questions for the public Tuesday evening, June 25 about the upcoming I-94 east-west freeway project.

There is lot of interest for what will be Milwaukee's first diverging diamond interchange. And we've now have an interactive map to understand how drivers on 175 will be able to access I-94.

"We're lengthening that out so you have a longer time to get up to speed and a longer time to merge with the traffic on 94," said Jeff Bohen, southeast freeways design chief for the Wisconsin DOT. 

WisDOT's making entrance ramps on I-94 longer too, including those at 68th, 70th and Hawley (from Eastbound I-94). About time, says Milwaukee resident Mike Frailing, who says his wife nearly hit the concrete wall because traffic on I-94 wouldn't let her merge.

"Why is it important to me? Well getting on the freeway here is a very short left lane entrance and that's a battle every time you do it," said Frailing.

Proposed changes are an attempt by the WisDOT to make I-94 safer.

"And a lot of the crashes that we're seeing out there are rear end crashes which are due to congestion -36 so the future forecast is why we're going with 4 lanes in each direction to alleviate congestion and improve safety," said Bohen.

A WisDOT open house at Washington Park Senior Center Tuesday brought a lot of people out.

"Mostly people are just confused about how are they gonna personally get on the highway," said Margaret Arney, Wauwatosa Alderperson, District 2. "I remember a lot of the controversy about what was gonna happen to the cemetery."

To keep things intact, Hawley Road will no longer offer access from the westbound lanes of I-94, only from the eastbound lanes.

"We've made a dedication to not take any land or any graves or interrupt anything in that area of the cemeteries," said Bohen.

The I-93 east-west freeway project widens things to four lanes in each direction up to 70th Street, and gets started Fall of 2025. The first piece focuses on 70th to Zablocki Drive. That's a two year project. The area at 27th/Clybourn could take a year. The full east leg of the project which extends to 16th Street is a multi year project. The final part of the project includes the Stadium Interchange, and portions of North South 175 and will take multiple years to complete. The total cost for the entire project is estimated at $1.46 billion.

Any concerns, like noise barriers, should be submitted to the DOT before May of 2025. Here's a link where you can find more information on public involvement. Wisconsin Department of Transportation I-94 East-West Corridor Study - Public involvement (wisconsindot.gov) WisDOT is hosting another Open House Wednesday from 4-7pm at the Tommy G. Thompson Youth Center at Wisconsin State Fair Park.