Zoo Interchange
| Zoo Interchange | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Milwaukee, Wisconsin | |
| Coordinates: | 43°01′39″N 88°02′04″W / 43.02750°N 88.03444°W |
| Roads at junction: |
  I-41 / US 41 I-94 I-894 US 45 |
| Construction | |
| Type: | Interchange |
| Opened: | 1963[1] |
| Maintained by: | WisDOT |
| Map | |
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The Zoo Interchange is a freeway Interchange on the west side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was built in 1963, as one of the first Interstate Highway projects in Wisconsin. It forms the junction of I-94, I-894, I-41, US 41 and US 45. It is nicknamed because of its location to the southeast of the Milwaukee County Zoo.
Design
The design of the Zoo Interchange was considered progressive for its time, featuring ramps on both the right and left sides of the roadways. This left-to-go-left, right-to-go-right scheme has since become obsolete, owing to the danger of merging into freeway traffic from the left. For this reason, plans for rebuilding the interchange in 2013-18 include converting all the ramps to right-exit right-entrance ramps.[2]
The control cities and highways at the interchange are, Downtown Milwaukee to the east, Chicago to the south, Madison to the west and Fond du Lac to the north.
History
The Zoo Interchange was completed in 1963. According to WisDOT: "it is one of Wisconsin's oldest interstate interchanges and is currently the busiest interchange in the state".[1]
Redesign and construction
Because of the deteriorated condition of the freeway system, obsolete design of the roadway and bridges, current and future capacity, and high crash rates, the Zoo interchange is being redesigned to increase efficiency, reduce accidents and add capacity.[3] Reconstruction is scheduled to begin in 2013 and end in 2018 with some preparatory work being completed in 2012 that will help allow for the re-routing of traffic during construction.[4] The total cost is expected to be $1.7 billion.[5] The spending of $1.7 billion on this interchange has been criticized by urban groups culminating in a lawsuit filed by the Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Inner-city Congregations Allied for Hope against the Wisconsin Department of Transportation in 2012. This lawsuit was settled in 2014 in exchange for $13.5 million in public transit improvements.[6]
References
- 1 2 I-94 East-West Corridor Study
- ↑ "Milwaukee Buzz: Zoo Interchange moves to faster track". OnMilwaukee.com.
- ↑ Zoo Interchange Corridor Study
- ↑ "Home - Wisconsin 511 Construction Projects". 511wi.gov.
- ↑ Ryan, Sean (February 15, 2013). "Zoo Interchange to be rebuilt by 2018 under Walker's proposed budget". Milwaukee Business Journal.
- ↑ "WisDOT news releases". wisconsin.gov.