I-94 between Hudson and Eau Claire turns 50

October 26, 2009

On Oct. 29, 1959 the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) opened the largest single segment of four-lane highway to be completed at one time in the history of Wisconsin. The 59 miles between Hudson and Eau Claire were completed after only two short years, at a total cost of $29 million.

“It was an incredible project to be involved in,” said Marty Beekman, retired WisDOT employee who worked as a project engineer on the Elk Mound interchange portion of the project. “It was a big deal for everyone; it was four lanes with interchanges. People could get farther in a shorter period of time; it really was an exciting time to be working in transportation.”

At the time, the average daily traffic count on the US 12 bridge in Hudson was 7,650 vehicles per day; at Menomonie, 5,890 vehicles; and in Eau Claire 8,290 per day. Today, more than 50,000 vehicles travel the I-94 corridor between Hudson and Eau Claire.

Currently, WisDOT is mapping the future of the corridor, which includes expanding it to six lanes in both directions to handle the increasing amount of traffic.

For more information, contact:
Chris Ouellette, WisDOT Regional Communications Manager
(715) 833-9814, chris.ouellette@dot.wi.gov