WisDOT project team outlines multi‑year I‑94 East–West reconstruction, warns of lane closures and ramp removals affecting Wauwatosa

Jeff Bowen, Southeast Freeways design chief with Westat, and Tim Vick of HNTB told the Wauwatosa committee that reconstruction of the I‑94 East–West corridor will add one travel lane in each direction but will require multi‑year work zones that reduce freeway capacity and change some local access.

The project team described a work program that runs in phases across the corridor, with “early east leg” and “west leg” construction beginning as early as fall of this year and major work continuing into 2027–2028. Tim Vick said the work will reduce I‑94 to two lanes in each direction through the work zone and could add about “3 to 4 miles” of queueing and “an additional 10 to 15 minutes” of travel time for some peak trips.

Why it matters: the corridor reconstruction touches Wauwatosa traffic patterns, local intersections and bicycle/pedestrian connections. Presenters said the project will move exit and entrance ramps to the right where possible, add bicycle and pedestrian facilities including a connection to the Hank Aaron State Trail and Oak Leaf Trail near Wisconsin Avenue, and permanently alter access at some interchanges.

Project changes and local access Jeff Bowen said the project will increase the number of through lanes from three to a minimum of four in each direction, but that engineering constraints require changing some ramps and…