MILWUAKEE (CBS 58) -- Drivers heading through the south side of Milwaukee this weekend will need to find a new route. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is planning a full closure of westbound I-894 from the Mitchell Interchange to the Hale Interchange starting Friday night, June 6.
The closure begins at 11 p.m. Friday and is expected to last through 5:30 a.m. Monday, June 9.
“894 westbound will be completely closed between the Mitchell interchange and Hale interchange,” said Eric Hanson, WisDOT construction project manager, “and that’s going to put down the final surface of asphalt connecting the whole project.”
The weekend shutdown allows WisDOT to do the work all at once—something Hanson says is actually better for drivers in the long run.
“We rip off the Band-Aid all in one swift motion,” Hanson said. “It’s a better cost for the taxpayer, a better final product, and it’s less impactful for the traveling public.”
Eastbound I-894 will stay open this weekend—but not for long. That direction is scheduled to shut down next weekend, June 13–16, for similar work.
Here’s what drivers need to know:
- What’s closing: Westbound I-894 between Mitchell and Hale interchanges
- When: Friday, June 6 at 11 p.m. through Monday, June 9 at 5:30 a.m.
- Why: Final asphalt surfacing and pavement repairs
- Eastbound Closure: Scheduled for the weekend of June 13–16
Detours will be posted and include I-43 and I-94. Local traffic can also use Layton Avenue and other surface streets to get around the closure.
Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead, allow extra time, and check here for real-time updates throughout the weekend.