Zoo Interchange - Wisconsin Department of Transportation

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Zoo Interchange

Introduction to the Zoo Interchange

Updates

En Espanol

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is currently undertaking an environmental and engineering analysis of the Zoo Interchange. The Zoo Interchange is the connection between I-94, I-894 and US 45 in western Milwaukee County near the Milwaukee County Zoo.

The Zoo Interchange fully opened to traffic in 1963. It is one of Wisconsin's oldest interstate interchanges and is currently the busiest interchange in the state. It plays a key role in moving commuters, retail customers, health care patients, freight and other movements to major commercial and institutional sites. WisDOT has maintained and rehabilitated the ramps, bridges, pavements and other structures, but the interchange is nearing the end of its useful life. Now is the time to take the next steps to determine how the interchange should be rebuilt to ensure that it serves the economy for decades to come.

The Zoo Interchange Team is conducting environmental and engineering work now through the end of 2009. This study phase includes developing alternatives to improve the corridor, evaluating impacts of those alternatives, preparing a document that addresses environmental concerns, and selecting a preferred alternative.

The study team is now defining the purpose and need for the study and improvement alternatives. These activities included ongoing data gathering and assessment of potential impacts.

Updates

The study team is working on a variety of reconstruction concepts. Six concepts are under development in two major categories: conduct spot improvements in specific locations and full freeway modernization. In addition, a "replace-in-kind" alternative is being studied. With input from the community from the public information meetings held May 21 and May 29, these concepts will continue to be refined and discussed. View the conceptual layouts, modernization and spot improvement maps.

An aerial photo of the Zoo Interchange.