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Oconomowoc council endorses expansion of I‑94 in western Waukesha County, urges DOT process restart
Summary
The council passed Resolution 25‑R3312 urging state and regional authorities to advance reconstruction and modernization of Interstate 94 in western Waukesha County. County and city officials said the section sees high traffic and crash rates; staff warned funding and environmental processes make construction at least a decade away.
City of Oconomowoc aldermen voted Oct. 7 to support Waukesha County’s effort to modernize and reconstruct a congested portion of Interstate 94 in western Waukesha County.
Why it matters: The relevant segment of I‑94 (between County Highway SS and the county line) is heavily traveled and has higher crash and congestion measures compared with other projects that have been funded in the state. County representatives said the governor removed the project from the state budget at the last minute, requiring a restart of the DOT planning/transportation planning committee approval process.
Waukesha County officials briefed the council on the project’s rationale and the process to re‑enter the state project list. “There’s still a lot of work that has to take place from there,” said a county representative; staff cautioned that even with full support and prioritization, construction would likely be at least a decade away because of funding and the list of higher‑priority projects statewide.
Council members said regional growth and planned development — including industrial and commercial projects near the corridor — increase the need for long‑term capacity and safety improvements. The council directed staff to forward a resolution of support to state planners and other stakeholders.
Action: The council adopted the resolution by roll call with all present members voting in favor. The resolution will be transmitted to the Waukesha County Board and DOT planners to support the project’s re‑submission to the state transportation planning process.
Background: County speakers noted the last major DOT project in Waukesha County was completed in the mid‑1990s; the corridor in question was designed decades earlier and faces traffic levels that outpace projects already approved elsewhere in the state. County staff emphasized that the DOT and state budget process will determine timing and funding.
