State Affirms Desire To Widen I-94 In Milwaukee Amid Local Pushback

MILWAUKEE, WI — State officials on Friday along with the Federal Highway Administration reaffirmed a preference to widen the east-west Interstate 94 corridor in Milwaukee as the freeway ages, but some local officials and others continue to push against the proposal.

Construction to replace the freeway could begin by 2025. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation on Friday said the eight-lane alternative would not only replace the aging infrastructure between 16th and 70th Streets, but it would improve safety and reduce congestion.

WisDOT's plans would also replace the stadium interchange with a diverging diamond, modernize interchanges at Hawley Road, 35th Street and 27th Street, and seek to improve bicycle and pedestrian crossings while connecting the Hank Aaron and Oak Leaf trails. The agency also said the project would increase efficiency and reduce traffic volumes on local roads.

Some local leaders objected to the widening plan on Friday. A joint statement from Alderman Michael J. Murphy and Alderman Robert J. Bauman called the $1.2 billion plan "unnecessary and unwanted by those most closely residing to the area."

"We have heard time and time again that residents want to see valuable public dollars allocated to the repair of existing local roads, other critical local transportation infrastructure, and enhanced public transit," the joint statement said. "To invest such a hefty sum of money into a project that will disrupt businesses and homeowners represents spending priorities that do not align with what people want, especially when traffic volume doesn’t justify the need for additional lanes."

The Milwaukee Business Journal pointed out that the proposal's expected cost is about $40 million more than an alternative to reconstruct the highway while keeping it at six lanes.

A coalition called "Fix at Six" emerged by September of 2021 proposing that the new highway remains six lanes. A report from the group asserted that widening the interstate "will increase vehicle miles traveled, increase greenhouse gas emissions, promote sprawl development, and damage the social and economic fabric of the neighborhoods it traverses."

On Friday, WisDOT did say that recent public involvment sparked a reduction in infrastructure footprints and real estate acquisition where practicable, despite the agency sticking with the eight-lane proposal. According to the latest evironmental impact statement from the agency, the six-lane alternative wasn't selected because it wouldn't accomodate traffic volumes by 2040.

“Safety is our agency’s highest priority and doing nothing about this section of I-94 is not an option,” WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson said in a release. “Listening to people who live in the community is a vital part of creating safe roads. We placed a high priority on public involvement during the I-94 East-West reevaluation which resulted in significant changes to the previous proposal, and we remain committed to working with stakeholders to minimize any impacts to the community.”

Two additional public hearings were scheduled in December amid the updated proposal. One will take place on Dec. 12 from 3-7 p.m. at the Wisconsin State Fair Park Tommy Thompson Youth Center Gate No. 5 at 640 South 84th Street.

A second public hearing is planned at Marquette University High School on Dec. 14 from 4-7 p.m. at 3401 West Wisconsin Avenue with entrance from the Michigan Street parking lot.

You can view the updated proposal from WisDOT and the Federal Highway Administration at WisDot's website.