Photo: WisDOT
Anyone traveling to Milwaukee by way of I-94 can expect delays this weekend.
A full freeway closure is planned all weekend for road construction, according the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. A portion of Interstate 94 will be shut down beginning Friday night at 11 pm going through 5:30 Monday morning.
Michael Pyritz is regional communication manager with WisDOT. He says there will be some inconvenience, but asks for your patience. “The reason we’re doing this in a 54-hour window is we’re able to accomplish so much more work in that time frame.” He says, “If we were to do that with continuous overnight closures, it could potentially take a couple of months to get the same amount of work done — due to mobilization and demobilization — that we were able to do in just this one weekend.”
I-94 will be closed to traffic between Highway 100 in the west and the Zoo Interchange in the east. Pyritz says you’ll have to allow extra time, bring your patience, watch road signs, and try an alternate route.
The Brewers are playing out of town this weekend, but there’s still a lot going on in the Milwaukee area. “Festa Italiana right down at the lakefront, the Waukesha County fair is going on and so many other events throughout the region. People should still feel comfortable coming into the area and going to those events.”
AUDIO: Pryitz explains where the closures are taking place. :43
Pryitz asks that motorists just plan ahead. Drivers can visit the Zoo Interchange Project’s website for updated information and check 511wi.gov for road conditions. Pyritz says traffic volume is approximately 5,000 at its peak in the affected area.
The closure will allow the new bridge spans for the Union Pacific Railroad lines to be placed over I-94. Also, the west span of Highway 100 will be demolished as reconstruction of that interchange continues.