Zoo Interchange, Maps and geography - Wisconsin Department of Transportation

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Zoo Interchange - Maps and geography

Study overview

The Zoo Interchange study area will cover about seven miles of freeway corridor leading to and through the actual interchange. The study boundaries are indicated below and on the map:

North - US 45 at Burleigh
South - I-894/US 45 at Lincoln Avenue
East - I-94 at 70th Street
West - I-94 at 124th Street

Project overview map of the Zoo Interchange.

The following documents are in Adobe PDF format.
(Note: some files are large and may take longer to download depending on individual connection speeds. Users will need to zoom in on the maps to see details.)

Study overview (281 KB)

The Zoo Interchange study area lies entirely within Milwaukee County and touches the cities of Milwaukee, Wauwatosa and West Allis. Traffic from around the region, state and nation passes through the interchange.

There are many major institutions and tourist attractions that are in close proximity to the Zoo Interchange and generate traffic that use the interchange. This is just a partial list of major institutions in the study area:

Children's Hospital of Wisconsin
Froedtert Hospital
Mayfair Mall
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee County Grounds / Research Park
Milwaukee County Zoo
Wisconsin Lutheran College
Wisconsin Lutheran High School
Wisconsin State Fair Park

The northern extension of the Zoo Interchange, US 45, is also part of the larger US 41/45 corridor that will be re-designated as an interstate highway, a change recently passed by the federal government. The Zoo Interchange study efforts will account for any changes necessary to complete the interstate re-designation.

June 23 and 24, 2009 - public hearing exhibits

6 lane concepts

6 lane alternative E1, east leg (818 KB)
6 lane alternative E1/E3 hybrid, east leg (818 KB)
6 lane alternative N1 or N3, north leg - north half (558 KB)
6 lane alternative N1, north leg - south half (705 KB)
6 lane alternative N3, north leg - south half (783 KB)
6 lane alternative S2, south leg (698 KB)
6 lane alternative W3, west leg (with Greenfield Avenue connection) (576 KB)
6 lane alternative W3b, west leg (without Greenfield Avenue connection) (520 KB)

8 lane concepts

8 lane alternative E1, east leg (1.1 MB)
8 lane alternative E1/E3 hybrid, east leg (1.1 MB)
8 lane alternative N1 or N3, north leg - north half (920 KB)
8 lane alternative N1, north leg - south half (with Greenfield Avenue connection) (1.1 MB)
8 lane alternative N3, north leg - south half (without Greenfield Avenue connection) (1.1 MB)
8 lane alternative S2, south leg (936 KB)
8 lane alternative W3, west leg (892 KB)
8 lane alternative W3b, west leg (799 KB)

Revised conceptual layouts since the October 27 and 30 Public information meeting (PIM)

8 lane alternative M3, east leg (893 KB)

October 27 and 30, 2008 PIM - conceptual layouts

6 lane concepts

6 lane alternative M1, east leg (1.4 MB)
6 lane alternative M3, east leg (1.1 MB)
6 lane alternative M3, north leg (621 KB)
6 lane alternative M1 or M3, north leg - north half (1.2 MB)
6 lane alternative M1, north leg - south half (1.5 MB)
6 lane sub alternative M1, north leg - south half (829 KB)
6 lane alternative M3, north leg - south half (1.6 MB)
6 lane alternative M2, south leg (1.4 MB)
6 lane alternative M1, west leg (1.1 MB)
6 lane sub alternative M1, west leg (1.1 MB)
6 lane alternative M3, west leg (1.1 MB)

8 lane concepts

8 lane alternative M1, east leg (1.4 MB)
8 lane alternative M3, east leg (1.2 MB)
8 lane alternative M3, north leg (656 KB)
8 lane alternative M1 or M3, north leg - north half (1.2 MB)
8 lane alternative M1, north leg - south half (1.5 MB)
8 lane sub alternative M1, north leg - south half (891 KB)
8 lane alternative M3, north leg - south half (1.8 MB)
8 lane alternative M2, south leg (1.5 MB)
8 lane alternative M1, west leg (1.1 MB)
8 lane sub alternative M1, west leg (1.1 MB)
8 lane alternative M3, west leg (1.1 MB)
8 lane sub alternative M3, west leg (1 MB)

Vistas

Video flyovers

Note: Each leg of the project (North, South, East, West) has different alternatives in the eight lane configuration videos.

(Example - W1N1E3S3 is West Alternative 1, North Alternative 1, East Alternative 3, South Alternative 3.)

Flyover of proposed Zoo Interchange area - W1N1E3S3, south to north
Duration: 00:01:10
This video is a south to north flyover of the South Leg M3 and North Leg M1 alternative. The video begins south of Lincoln Avenue and flies over the Union Pacific Railroad, Greenfield Avenue, the core of the interchange, Bluemound Road, Wisconsin Avenue, Watertown Plank Road, Swan Boulevard, Underwood Creek Parkway, Mayfair Road, the Union Pacific Railroad, North Avenue, Center Street and ends just south of Burleigh Street.
Flyover of proposed Zoo Interchange area - W1N1E3S3, west to east
Duration: 00:00:42
This video is a west to east flyover of the West Leg M1 and East Leg M3 alternative. The video begins at 124th Street and flies over 121st Street, the Hank Aaron State Trail, WIS 100, the Union Pacific Railroad, the core of the interchange, 92nd Street, 84th Street, 76th Street and ends just west of 70th Street.
Flyover of proposed Zoo Interchange area - W3N3E1S2, south to north
Duration: 00:01:09
This video is a south to north flyover of the South Leg M2 and North Leg M3 alternative. The video begins south of Lincoln Avenue and flies over the Union Pacific Railroad, Greenfield Avenue, the core of the interchange, Bluemound Road, Wisconsin Avenue, Watertown Plank Road, Swan Boulevard, Underwood Creek Parkway, Mayfair Road, the Union Pacific Railroad, North Avenue, Center Street and ends just south of Burleigh Street.
Flyover of proposed Zoo Interchange area - W3N3E1S2, west to east
Duration: 00:00:42
This video is a west to east flyover of the West Leg M3 and East Leg M1 alternative. The video begins at 124th Street and flies over 121st Street, the Hank Aaron State Trail, WIS 100, the Union Pacific Railroad, the core of the interchange, 92nd Street, 84th Street, 76th Street and ends just west of 70th Street.

May 21 and 29, 2008 PIM - conceptual layouts

Modernization alternative M-1 (1.7 MB)
Modernization alternative M-2 (1.7 MB)
Modernization alternative M-3 (1.8 MB)
Spot improvement alternative SI-1 (1.4 MB)
Spot improvement alternative SI-2 (1.5 MB)
Spot improvement alternative SI-3 (1.6 MB)

January 17 and 23, 2008 design workshops

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You will need the Adobe Reader (provided free of charge) to view PDF files. For more information about getting your free copy of the Adobe Reader, visit WisDOT's Software information page.

You will need a video player (provided free of charge) to view our video files. For more information about getting a free video player, visit WisDOT's Software information page.

Questions about the content of this page, contact:
Emlynn Grisar, dotdtsdsezoo@dot.wi.gov
Last modified: July 6, 2009