MILWAUKEE – Eastbound I-94 is down to two lanes on Milwaukee’s west side, with more overnight work and a 24-hour Highway 100 closure also on the way.
Drivers on Milwaukee’s west side are getting used to a new traffic pattern on eastbound I-94 — and it’s one they’ll be seeing for a while.
WisDOT shifted eastbound traffic between 70th Street and General Mitchell Boulevard earlier this week, cutting the freeway from three lanes to two as part of the West Leg work on the I-94 East-West project.
WisDOT’s Eric Hanson says the change gives crews room to begin work on the future eastbound lanes.
“So on the west leg, we did install our traffic shift on 94 eastbound between 70th Street and General Mitchell Boulevard. That was earlier this week, and this involved reducing 94 from 3 lanes down to two lanes, similar to the configuration that we had last winter.”
The lane reduction is expected to stay in place through later this fall.
Hanson says drivers also shouldn’t expect another major traffic change on the West Leg right away.
“We should remain fairly static through, I’d say the end of September, early October. That’s when we’ll anticipate the next change on the West Leg project.”
Friday night work coming to eastbound I-94
Drivers will also have another overnight closure to work around Friday night, August 21.
Hanson says crews are planning repair work near General Mitchell Boulevard, along with pothole work on pavement that is still carrying traffic.
“We do have an overnight closure on 94 eastbound schedule. That’s to do some beam guard repair over by General Mitchell Boulevard, as well as doing some pothole work just on some of the existing pavement that we have out there that are in the live lanes of traffic.”
The closure won’t start until after the Brewers game wraps up.
Work is also moving ahead at the 27th Street Bridge, where crews have finished the deep foundation work for the second new bridge pier.
Hanson says the drilled shafts are about 65 inches in diameter and can extend about 50 feet into the ground. They also have to be drilled into bedrock to provide a stronger foundation for the bridge.
Highway 100 closing for 24 hours
Another significant traffic impact is coming next week on the I-894 project.
Highway 100 southbound is scheduled to close between Layton Avenue and I-43 beginning at 5 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 27, and stay closed until 5 a.m. Friday, Aug. 28.
Hanson says crews will use the roughly 24-hour closure for paving work.
“We do have an extended full closure of Highway 100 southbound. That’s going to be scheduled to begin Thursday, August 27th by 5 A.m. and go through Friday, August 28th at 5 A.m.”
Access to nearby businesses and the Hales Corners Park and Ride will remain open during the closure.
Hanson says people in the area will still be able to reach those locations.
Construction near the stadium is being timed around the Brewers
WisDOT is also working around the Brewers schedule as construction continues near the stadium.
“We do have restrictions for our west leg contract and especially maintaining access using those general Mitchell ramps, especially to and from the west. Those are very critical.”
Hanson says those ramps are expected to close after the Brewers season ends, whenever that may be.
“You know, we do intend to close those ramps after the conclusion of the Brewers season, because they are important ramps not only to the Brewers, but everyone in that area.”
In the meantime, crews can continue working farther west near Hawley Road while keeping those ramps available.
For more information about all the construction projects in the area, you can visit 511wi.gov.
