The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is conducting undertaking an environmental and engineering analysis of the Zoo Interchange, the connection between I-94, I-894 and US 45 in western Milwaukee County near the Milwaukee County Zoo, through the end of 2009.The interchange is one of Wisconsin's oldest interstate interchanges, the busiest interchange in the state.
Refined modernization alternatives for each leg (north, south, east, west) and the core of the interchange will be presented at public meetings at the end of this month. Details are contained in the following release I received from the DOT:
Project progress
Over the past 10 years, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) and the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC) have completed a number of studies and analyses that consistently concluded that improvements to the Zoo Interchange are necessary. Recently WisDOT has collected and analyzed data to show current and future traffic scenarios.
Based on the initial results of the traffic analysis and the input received at the January 2008 open house workshops, the Zoo Interchange Team developed seven design concepts for public review and comments. Seven concepts, including the “no build” or “replace in kind” alternative, were presented at public information meetings in May. Nearly 500 people attended the May public information meetings and provided valuable input and ideas on the alternatives. The seven alternatives were further evaluated for traffic operations and impacts to local and environmental features.
Result: The traffic analysis concluded that spot improvements alone would not adequately address congestion and safety issues in the Zoo Interchange corridor. The spot improvement alternatives also did not address the outdated design issues including left hand exit and entrance ramps. At the conclusion of this analysis, and based on comments received from the public, the Zoo Interchange Team determined that the “spot improvement alternatives” would be screened out from further study and the modernization alternatives” should be analyzed further. The “modernization” alternatives feature a multi-level system interchange with right side exits and entrances. This design reduces weaving maneuvers and provides safer operations.
Alternatives to be presented at the October public meetings
The study team will present alternatives for each leg (north, south, east, west) of the project. The alternatives for each leg can be mixed and matched with alternatives of similar lane-width to fit the preferences and needs of the community. The alternatives presented will include the “replace-in-kind” alternative.
The maps and displays will show increased detail of where the new right-of-way lines may be located. Also, there will be artistic drawings to show how the freeway may look, and an electronic “fly over” to illustrate how traffic will flow with the different interchange designs.
What happens next
• October 2008 - The design concepts will be refined and presented in more detail at public information meetings.
• October 27, 2pm-7pm, Tommy Thompson Youth Center at State Fair Park
• October 30, 4pm-8pm, Wauwatosa West High School Cafeteria
• 2009 - A preferred design will be selected, and hearings will be held on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement
• 2009-2010 - Record of decision from the Federal Highway Administration; ongoing analysis and design
• 2010-2012 - Ongoing design and begin to address real estate and utility issues
• 2012-2016 - Reconstruct the interchange
Questions or comments? Please call our project hotline at 262-548-6421.
