It was originally scheduled for completion in 2018, but was delayed two years in the current biennial budget. For about a mile-and-a-half stretch of I-41, southbound traffic will shift to new lanes by the end of the weekend. [33], The $1.7 billion dollar cost of rebuilding the interchange used two years worth of the state's budget for highway repairs and 15 years worth of public transit aid. [citation needed] A major component of the new highway system was the Zoo Interchange, located to the west of downtown. [12] In March 2010, severe cracking was discovered on one of the deficient bridges. Scott Walker declares Zoo Interchange is done, even as years of work remain . Post Date:07/05/2020 5:49 PM. [5] Doyle stated that advancing the project would benefit the economy of the region and create new jobs. Two similar versions of a modernization design were proposed. Under this plan, the Marquette Interchange would have been rebuilt from 2001 to 2004, the light rail would have been constructed from 2002 to 2006, and the Zoo Interchange rebuild and other freeway work would have occurred from 2008 to 2013. Interstate-41 in both directions will be closed from Jan. 14 at 11 p.m. until. All told, the project covered pedestrian, transit, car-pooling, and bicycle facilities, making it the largest multimodal project in Wisconsin history. Both northbound and southbound drivers will be able to rely on Highway 100/Mayfair Road for detours. The second option was to make spot improvements to the interchange. WisDOT expects the work on this project to be complete by the end of 2023. 0000022368 00000 n Walker will review the DOT request while compiling a budget proposal that will be sent to the Legislature for review. [16], In May 2014, the two sides reached an agreement in mediation. The North Leg is the final segment to complete the Zoo Interchange. This works marks the beginning of the final steps in the . The shafts were 810 feet (2.43.0m) in diameter and 60100 feet (1830m) deep. Thin Polymer Overlays to 30 of the Zoo Interchange mainline bridges, Josh LeVeque, WisDOT Project Manager(414) 750-1468Joshua.LeVeque@dot.wi.gov, Dan Sellers, WisDOT Communications(262) 548-6702Daniel.Sellers@dot.wi.gov. [25] In June 2018, the ramp from I-94 west to I-894 south opened, marking the completion of the last major structure in the core of the interchange. The choice to expand the capacity of the interchange greatly increased the cost, with a simple rebuild estimated at only $900 million. The complexity and scale of the reconstruction project necessitated advanced methods of construction. Expansion of the highways on the approach to the Zoo Interchange were blocked from proceeding until the study was completed. Northbound traffic will shift to the southbound roadway to allow for work on northbound lanes. 0000001535 00000 n [37], The Zoo Interchange reconstruction has showcased the conflict of political ideas in the Milwaukee metropolitan area. WisDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are making a major investment in The third alternative was to improve traffic management with HOV lanes, new driver messaging boards, increased patrols, and improved access to traffic information. Click . } He noted that the project is now scheduled to be let in 2021, rather than 2018. Contributions to this story also made by: All content Copyright 2023 WDJT. Note that WisDOT added the interchange's west leg work and other incomplete segments to the north leg the paper . View location map (Document may take a few minutes to load) . Until the bids are received it is premature to make a statement saying it is higher or lower than estimated, he wrote. Luck is the construction chief for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's (WisDOT) Zoo Interchange, a hulking $1.7 billion modernization of the I-41 and I-94 crossroads in Milwaukee. In 1951, the city hired consultants Amman and Whitney to do a traffic study and find a solution that would satisfy the city's needs for the increasing traffic. top: 140px; The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) will close one lane in each direction along I-41/US 45 between Capitol Drive and Swan Boulevard. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) will begin the reconstruction of the North Leg of the Zoo Interchange starting Sunday, March 7. The new timeline called for an environmental and engineering study to occur from 2007 to 2008 and final design development and land acquisition to occur from 2009 to 2011. The plan also included numerous improvements for interchanges, including the Zoo Interchange. However, the decision makers would be required to consider the results of the studies first. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. [30] Orange was chosen because it would be easier to see and matched the color of construction signs and barrels. Once the studies were completed, the state would be free to choose whatever course of action it wanted, including continuing with the plan to expand the interchange and allow public transit to decline. From theaters to fundraisers, VISIT Milwaukee teases fun local Local teen soars high in scouting achievement. The new route would cost $245,000 in 2014 and $668,000 in 2015 (equivalent to $279,794 and $755,289 in 2021[7]) and would be the first new route funded with the settlement money. It was determined that contractors would need to buy from at least two steel manufacturers to obtain the necessary quantity. It included doubling the revenue miles of existing transit systems and establishing new transit systems. Theres still no clear plan for how the state intends to complete the project, either. Toggle Design subsection 2.1 No-build alternatives. Monday morning, March 8, was a little bit different for drivers. 0000030536 00000 n Pyritz declined to provide details about the cost estimate, saying that such information could influence bid results. WisDOT agreed to pay $13.5 million (equivalent to $15.4million in 2021[7]) for public transit improvements in the region. Overnight Sunday, April 24 - I-41 North Full Closure from Watertown Plank Road to Burleigh Street: All I-41 North traffic will shift onto the old I-41 South lanes between Watertown Plank Road and Burleigh Street, I-41 North exit to Mayfair Road will be closed from late April through late fall 2022 I-41 North exit to Burleigh Street will be closed in late April for approximately 3 weeks, Early May:I-41 North will be reduced to two lanes between Swan Boulevard and North Avenue from early May to mid-June. Due to the 31million pounds (14,000,000kg) of steel needed for the project, WisDOT held meetings with steel fabricators and construction contractors to understand the necessary logistics. 0000017179 00000 n Area legislators favored the eight-lane expansion, as it would prepare for future traffic needs. [34] Following the bridge closure at the Zoo Interchange, county executive Scott Walker criticized Governor Doyle and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett for supporting an $810 million (equivalent to $997million in 2021[7]) rail line when the highway infrastructure was so deteriorated. [15] Further, state aid to the public transit that these groups relied on had been decreasing. Only $20 million (equivalent to $24.9million in 2021[7]) was allocated while preparatory tasks including acquiring land, relocating utilities, and designing the first phase were estimated to cost $195 million (equivalent to $243million in 2021[7]). .media-container.floating-video.mobile-ad-is-sticky-noad{ The results of these decreases included the Milwaukee County Transit System eliminating 25 bus routes and making reductions to other routes. ];qh7_ C6 [3] A second option was to do a full rebuild of the interchange, replacing outdated features to improve safety and widening it to six lanes, with a cost of $2.16 billion. It includes some of the busiest freeway sections in the state. supports HTML5 video. 0000017292 00000 n %%EOF The need for transportation between the two areas caused a large growth in the use of automobiles. Wisconsin taxpayers spent more than $2 million on 31 items classified as undistributed pay plan quantities in the Zoo Interchange project, including the $404,250, documents examined by the Journal . For now, you will likely run into added congestion. Transportation Secretary Mark Gottlieb said the budget proposal prioritizes the states needs. Residents of the city want a more diverse transportation system. [4] WisDOT originally planned to begin working on the Zoo Interchange after a rebuild of I-94 from Milwaukee to the state line had been completed. ;Hu=hyE.<4pQ*_pd3cX. Already considered one of the busiest in the state, the intersection would see a major increase in traffic volume. . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Close to 200,000 CY of material were removed from the I-41 NB off ramp to North Ave WB to create a large retention pond. This option was eliminated because it did not solve most of the problems. [28] Model data was also used for automated machine guidance during construction. Thin Polymer Overlays to 12 structures near the Zoo Interchange. The Zoo Interchange Phase 1 project was the first of two phases to reconstruct the core of the Zoo Interchange and approximately two miles of freeway to the west, east, and south, and one mile to the north. [6], In 2008, the interchange handled a traffic volume of 345,900 vehicles per day, three times its original design capacity. - Zoo Interchange, Utility Coordination, (Trans 220 documents and reviewing work plans, 2014-2016) - Zoo Interchange Reconstruction Phase 1, Milwaukee, WI (North Leg Roadway Task Lead, 2012-2014) This compounded on a two-year delay introduced in the previous budget, moving the completion date to 2022 from the originally planned 2018. The eight-lane variant would solve all of the problems, and was favored by the department, but it faced opposition by the public because of high costs and environmental impacts. 7, on the North Leg of the Zoo interchange. This design would still solve all of the problems, but would have a lower cost, less environmental impact, and require significantly less property and utility relocations. [13], Based on input from the public, WisDOT took components from several of the eliminated designs to develop a new modernization option, called the Reduced Impacts alternative. Roads quickly became overloaded resulting in long delays and increased accidents. This was estimated to be in 2015. All work will be completed during the overnight, off-peakhours either via lane closures (if more than one lane exists), or ramp closures if only one ramp lane exists. The proposal increases road aids to local governments over the current two-year budget, and decreases overall highway spending. On March 7th, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) will begin the reconstruction of the North Leg of the Zoo Interchange. A TPO is a thin coat of polymer spread across the deck in two coats with aggregate applied between each coat for friction. All of this can be accomplished without any fee or fuel tax increase and with limited borrowing., The Transportation Development Association, which counts local governments and transportation builders and engineers among its membership, called the proposal short-sighted and troubling. Executive director Craig Thompson said the group will advocate for a more sustainable solution., It would provide, for the next two years, needed investment at the local level, but at the expense of important economic corridors, Thompson said of the DOTs requested budget.
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