Plans & Projects > Find by location > SE Region > SE freeway system >

Introduction to the Zoo Interchange Study

En Espanol

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act. The EIS explains why WisDOT and FHWA propose to reconstruct the Zoo Interchange, the alternatives considered, and their impacts.

Review the DEIS on the environmental documents page or at the following locations:

• WisDOT SE Region
  141 NW Barstow Street
  Waukesha
• Wauwatosa Public Library
  7635 W. North Avenue
  Milwaukee
• West Allis Public Library
  7421 W. National Avenue
  Milwaukee
• Milwaukee Public Library – Capitol Drive
  3969 N. 74th Street
  Milwaukee
• Milwaukee Public Library – downtown
  814 W. Wisconsin Avenue
  Milwaukee
• WisDOT Bureau of Equity and Environmental Services (BEES)
  4802 Sheboygan Avenue, Room 451
  Madison

More information about the Zoo Interchange Study can be found on this Web site or by calling the Zoo Interchange Study hot line at (262) 548-6421.

Study overview

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.
• Selecting a preferred alternative.

Over 800 people attended public informational meeting (PIM) in May and October of 2008. The study team gained valuable input on the initial and refined alternatives. As a result of that input and other traffic analysis, the study team determined that the “spot improvement alternatives” would be eliminated from further study and the “modernization alternatives” should be further refined. The “modernization alternatives” feature a multi-level system interchange with right side exits and entrances. This design reduces weaving maneuvers and provides safer operations.

The study team has refined both the 6-lane and 8-lane modernization alternatives and completed the preparation of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).

Alternative refinement

As the study team refined the alternatives, an additional alternative was developed on the east leg of the interchange. This new alternative combines portions of the east leg M1 and M3 alternatives. The new alternative, called the east leg Alternative M3, consists of an eastbound diamond ramp to 84th Street similar to the M3 alternative, but incorporates the services drives and Texas u-turns between 84th Street and 76th Street to provide a westbound entrance to the freeway east of 84th Street, similar to the M1 alternative.

While this alternative still would require the same residential relocations on Adler Street as the M3 alternative, it would eliminates the need for any commercial or residential relocations north of the freeway west of 84th Street.

In addition to developing this new alternative, a few alternatives have been eliminated from further consideration. On the east leg, the original M3 alternative has been eliminated due to the development of the M3 hybrid. On the north leg of the interchange, the full interchange at Swan Blvd. has been eliminated due to its impacts on parkland and its minimal affect on traffic operations on Watertown Plank Road. In addition to eliminating this interchange alternative, the extension of Swan Blvd. through the County Greenhouses and Public Works facility has also been eliminated from further consideration due to its cost, impacts and no full interchange on US 45 at Swan Blvd.

 Return to top

Questions about the content of this page, contact:
Emlynn Grisar, dotdtsdsezoo@dot.wi.gov
Last modified: August 11, 2009