Wisconsin: I-39/90/94 Wisconsin River Bridge Replacement

Three Major Highways, Two New Bridges, and One Major Improvement for Wisconsin  

The Challenge: The I-39/90/94 Wisconsin River Bridges are the workhorses of the regional economy. As the part of the longest multi-interstate corridor in the country, it carries 60,000 vehicles a day. Twenty-three percent of that traffic comes from large trucks carrying goods between Milwaukee, Chicago, and Madison. Constructed in 1961, the bridges have been repaired seven times, and although safe for travelers, are nearing the end of their operational life span.  

The Solution: With help from the federal infrastructure investment law, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is moving forward with a plan to replace these critical crossings. The plan calls for constructing two new crossings – one in each direction. The first bridge will be built east of the existing crossing and the other will be built over its existing footprint.  

What they’re saying: “This corridor has some aging infrastructure,” said Dan Schave, a WisDOT Major Studies Supervisor. “It was originally built in the ‘60s. Pretty old bridges and pavement along the corridor. We have frequent congestion issues, which leads to a lot of safety issues, especially during our peak periods on Fridays and Sundays.” (Wiscnews.com, 09/16/2023)