Wisconsin notes

[I-39]

Interstate 39/90 from STH 30/Interstate 94 to US 12/18 was expanded from four to six lanes in 1998. It will probably remain that way for some time to come (and possibly always will be). There is a pavement patching project proposed along this stretch, with construction planned for 2026 (though it could be bumped up to as soon as next year): https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/i39-danecounty/default.aspx. Outside of that, nothing else is planned for this stretch of Interstate 39/90, although I wish they would add a second bridge (for eastbound traffic) to the existing Cottage Grove Road/CTH BB overpass: https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0845454,-89.2836542,422m/data=!3m1!1e3. The roadway is four lanes west of the Interstate, and was recently expanded to four lanes east of the Interstate to Sprecher Rd.

Didn't they recommend restarting the I-39/90/94 study from the Beltline to the Dells? I would imagine that would eight lane the Interstate at least in the Madison area.

[SEWIGuy]

That study was going to eventually recommend the expand existing capacity alternatives, which would have included four laning in the Madison area.  But I still think construction of those lanes would be a long time in the future.  The only time I-39/90 is THAT busy is on Holiday weekends in the summer.  On an every day basis, six lanes is plenty of capacity.

[Big John]

^^ The usual number for capacity analysis is the 30th highest traffic amount in a year.  Wisconsin is conservative and the last time I saw this they use the 200th highest traffic count as their basis.  Meaning that 6 lanes is plenty of capacity using that criteria.

[SEWIGuy]

^^ The usual number for capacity analysis is the 30th highest traffic amount in a year.  Wisconsin is conservative and the last time I saw this they use the 200th highest traffic count as their basis.  Meaning that 6 lanes is plenty of capacity using that criteria.

Gotcha. I bet even using the 30th that six lanes is sufficient.

[jwags]

Interstate 39/90 from STH 30/Interstate 94 to US 12/18 was expanded from four to six lanes in 1998. It will probably remain that way for some time to come (and possibly always will be). There is a pavement patching project proposed along this stretch, with construction planned for 2026 (though it could be bumped up to as soon as next year): https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/i39-danecounty/default.aspx. Outside of that, nothing else is planned for this stretch of Interstate 39/90, although I wish they would add a second bridge (for eastbound traffic) to the existing Cottage Grove Road/CTH BB overpass: https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0845454,-89.2836542,422m/data=!3m1!1e3. The roadway is four lanes west of the Interstate, and was recently expanded to four lanes east of the Interstate to Sprecher Rd.

Didn't they recommend restarting the I-39/90/94 study from the Beltline to the Dells? I would imagine that would eight lane the Interstate at least in the Madison area.

Honestly I think it may be more pressing to 6 lane 90/94 from the I-39 split at least up to exit 92 (US 12) in Lake Delton or maybe even exit 87 in Wisconsin Dells (unlikely due to Mirror Lake crossing). That stretch of road is horrendous to drive on, especially during the summer. Easily my least favorite stretch of interstate between exits in Wisconsin.

[I-39]

Interstate 39/90 from STH 30/Interstate 94 to US 12/18 was expanded from four to six lanes in 1998. It will probably remain that way for some time to come (and possibly always will be). There is a pavement patching project proposed along this stretch, with construction planned for 2026 (though it could be bumped up to as soon as next year): https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/i39-danecounty/default.aspx. Outside of that, nothing else is planned for this stretch of Interstate 39/90, although I wish they would add a second bridge (for eastbound traffic) to the existing Cottage Grove Road/CTH BB overpass: https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0845454,-89.2836542,422m/data=!3m1!1e3. The roadway is four lanes west of the Interstate, and was recently expanded to four lanes east of the Interstate to Sprecher Rd.

Didn't they recommend restarting the I-39/90/94 study from the Beltline to the Dells? I would imagine that would eight lane the Interstate at least in the Madison area.

Honestly I think it may be more pressing to 6 lane 90/94 from the I-39 split at least up to exit 92 (US 12) in Lake Delton or maybe even exit 87 in Wisconsin Dells (unlikely due to Mirror Lake crossing). That stretch of road is horrendous to drive on, especially during the summer. Easily my least favorite stretch of interstate between exits in Wisconsin.

I included that stretch in my initial statement (from the Beltline to the Dells). I agree that stretch needs to be six lanes, and probably before the Madison to Portage segment of I-39/90/94 is eight laned. Though the Wisconsin River bridge needs to be done now.

[jwags]

Interstate 39/90 from STH 30/Interstate 94 to US 12/18 was expanded from four to six lanes in 1998. It will probably remain that way for some time to come (and possibly always will be). There is a pavement patching project proposed along this stretch, with construction planned for 2026 (though it could be bumped up to as soon as next year): https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/i39-danecounty/default.aspx. Outside of that, nothing else is planned for this stretch of Interstate 39/90, although I wish they would add a second bridge (for eastbound traffic) to the existing Cottage Grove Road/CTH BB overpass: https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0845454,-89.2836542,422m/data=!3m1!1e3. The roadway is four lanes west of the Interstate, and was recently expanded to four lanes east of the Interstate to Sprecher Rd.

Didn't they recommend restarting the I-39/90/94 study from the Beltline to the Dells? I would imagine that would eight lane the Interstate at least in the Madison area.

Honestly I think it may be more pressing to 6 lane 90/94 from the I-39 split at least up to exit 92 (US 12) in Lake Delton or maybe even exit 87 in Wisconsin Dells (unlikely due to Mirror Lake crossing). That stretch of road is horrendous to drive on, especially during the summer. Easily my least favorite stretch of interstate between exits in Wisconsin.

I included that stretch in my initial statement (from the Beltline to the Dells). I agree that stretch needs to be six lanes, and probably before the Madison to Portage segment of I-39/90/94 is eight laned. Though the Wisconsin River bridge needs to be done now.

I agree with that. The interchange at exit 92 is already well configured to handle the new lane when entering from the loop ramp on US-12 and the WB lane could easily be dropped by forcing traffic off at exit 92. A huge portion of Dells bound traffic already uses 92 vs the actual Wisconsin Dells exit 87.

[thspfc]

The stretch from US-12 at Lake Delton to the Cascade Interchange needs six lanes badly. If I was in charge of WISDOT, that would be my #1 priority right now.

[thspfc]

Interstate 39/90 from STH 30/Interstate 94 to US 12/18 was expanded from four to six lanes in 1998. It will probably remain that way for some time to come (and possibly always will be). There is a pavement patching project proposed along this stretch, with construction planned for 2026 (though it could be bumped up to as soon as next year): https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/i39-danecounty/default.aspx. Outside of that, nothing else is planned for this stretch of Interstate 39/90, although I wish they would add a second bridge (for eastbound traffic) to the existing Cottage Grove Road/CTH BB overpass: https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0845454,-89.2836542,422m/data=!3m1!1e3. The roadway is four lanes west of the Interstate, and was recently expanded to four lanes east of the Interstate to Sprecher Rd.

Didn't they recommend restarting the I-39/90/94 study from the Beltline to the Dells? I would imagine that would eight lane the Interstate at least in the Madison area.

Honestly I think it may be more pressing to 6 lane 90/94 from the I-39 split at least up to exit 92 (US 12) in Lake Delton or maybe even exit 87 in Wisconsin Dells (unlikely due to Mirror Lake crossing). That stretch of road is horrendous to drive on, especially during the summer. Easily my least favorite stretch of interstate between exits in Wisconsin.

I included that stretch in my initial statement (from the Beltline to the Dells). I agree that stretch needs to be six lanes, and probably before the Madison to Portage segment of I-39/90/94 is eight laned. Though the Wisconsin River bridge needs to be done now.

If we agree now that six lanes is sufficient all the way from WI-30 to the IL border, WISDOT would just need to expand I-39/90/94 between WI-78 and US-151 to make the entire triplex eight lanes. It's already eight lanes between US-151 and WI-30.

[I-39]

Interstate 39/90 from STH 30/Interstate 94 to US 12/18 was expanded from four to six lanes in 1998. It will probably remain that way for some time to come (and possibly always will be). There is a pavement patching project proposed along this stretch, with construction planned for 2026 (though it could be bumped up to as soon as next year): https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/i39-danecounty/default.aspx. Outside of that, nothing else is planned for this stretch of Interstate 39/90, although I wish they would add a second bridge (for eastbound traffic) to the existing Cottage Grove Road/CTH BB overpass: https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0845454,-89.2836542,422m/data=!3m1!1e3. The roadway is four lanes west of the Interstate, and was recently expanded to four lanes east of the Interstate to Sprecher Rd.

Didn't they recommend restarting the I-39/90/94 study from the Beltline to the Dells? I would imagine that would eight lane the Interstate at least in the Madison area.

Honestly I think it may be more pressing to 6 lane 90/94 from the I-39 split at least up to exit 92 (US 12) in Lake Delton or maybe even exit 87 in Wisconsin Dells (unlikely due to Mirror Lake crossing). That stretch of road is horrendous to drive on, especially during the summer. Easily my least favorite stretch of interstate between exits in Wisconsin.

I included that stretch in my initial statement (from the Beltline to the Dells). I agree that stretch needs to be six lanes, and probably before the Madison to Portage segment of I-39/90/94 is eight laned. Though the Wisconsin River bridge needs to be done now.

If we agree now that six lanes is sufficient all the way from WI-30 to the IL border, WISDOT would just need to expand I-39/90/94 between WI-78 and US-151 to make the entire triplex eight lanes. It's already eight lanes between US-151 and WI-30.

I think it really just needs to be eight lanes in the Madison area, from the Beltline to US 51/WIS 19. I could see a case though for going all the way to Portage/WIS 78, and I'm glad the new Wisconsin River bridge is being planned with a fourth lane in mind.

[SEWIGuy]

Interstate 39/90 from STH 30/Interstate 94 to US 12/18 was expanded from four to six lanes in 1998. It will probably remain that way for some time to come (and possibly always will be). There is a pavement patching project proposed along this stretch, with construction planned for 2026 (though it could be bumped up to as soon as next year): https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/i39-danecounty/default.aspx. Outside of that, nothing else is planned for this stretch of Interstate 39/90, although I wish they would add a second bridge (for eastbound traffic) to the existing Cottage Grove Road/CTH BB overpass: https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0845454,-89.2836542,422m/data=!3m1!1e3. The roadway is four lanes west of the Interstate, and was recently expanded to four lanes east of the Interstate to Sprecher Rd.

Didn't they recommend restarting the I-39/90/94 study from the Beltline to the Dells? I would imagine that would eight lane the Interstate at least in the Madison area.

Honestly I think it may be more pressing to 6 lane 90/94 from the I-39 split at least up to exit 92 (US 12) in Lake Delton or maybe even exit 87 in Wisconsin Dells (unlikely due to Mirror Lake crossing). That stretch of road is horrendous to drive on, especially during the summer. Easily my least favorite stretch of interstate between exits in Wisconsin.

I included that stretch in my initial statement (from the Beltline to the Dells). I agree that stretch needs to be six lanes, and probably before the Madison to Portage segment of I-39/90/94 is eight laned. Though the Wisconsin River bridge needs to be done now.

If we agree now that six lanes is sufficient all the way from WI-30 to the IL border, WISDOT would just need to expand I-39/90/94 between WI-78 and US-151 to make the entire triplex eight lanes. It's already eight lanes between US-151 and WI-30.

I think it really just needs to be eight lanes in the Madison area, from the Beltline to US 51/WIS 19. I could see a case though for going all the way to Portage/WIS 78, and I'm glad the new Wisconsin River bridge is being planned with a fourth lane in mind.

Traffic isn't nearly deserving of 8 lanes all the way to Portage.

[peterj920]

A flyover ramp from US 151 south to I-39 south and eliminating the loop ramp would be a huge improvement that is needed. But money and real estate stand in the way.

[I-39]

I think it really just needs to be eight lanes in the Madison area, from the Beltline to US 51/WIS 19. I could see a case though for going all the way to Portage/WIS 78, and I'm glad the new Wisconsin River bridge is being planned with a fourth lane in mind.

Traffic isn't nearly deserving of 8 lanes all the way to Portage.

I tend to agree, which is why I only think they should widen it in the Madison area, from the Beltline to US 51. Widening between Portage and the Dells should be a higher priority. But I do think the Wisconsin River bridge should be rebuilt to accommodate a fourth lane.

[thspfc]

I think it really just needs to be eight lanes in the Madison area, from the Beltline to US 51/WIS 19. I could see a case though for going all the way to Portage/WIS 78, and I'm glad the new Wisconsin River bridge is being planned with a fourth lane in mind.

Traffic isn't nearly deserving of 8 lanes all the way to Portage.

I tend to agree, which is why I only think they should widen it in the Madison area, from the Beltline to US 51. Widening between Portage and the Dells should be a higher priority. But I do think the Wisconsin River bridges should be rebuilt to accommodate a fourth lane.

It sounds weird, but Illinois might want that stretch widened more than than Wisconsin does. It's constantly full of weekenders from Illinois.

[mgk920]

I'm wondering if the traffic numbers on I-90/94 between Wisconsin Dells and the Tomah Interchange would warrant upgrade it to six lanes within a reasonable planning period.

Mike

[SEWIGuy]

I'm wondering if the traffic numbers on I-90/94 between Wisconsin Dells and the Tomah Interchange would warrant upgrade it to six lanes within a reasonable planning period.

Mike

Anecdotally, I think that would be a much higher priority. 

I think I-94 needs to be six lanes from where it cuts down to four in Waukesha all the way to Tomah.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I'm wondering if the traffic numbers on I-90/94 between Wisconsin Dells and the Tomah Interchange would warrant upgrade it to six lanes within a reasonable planning period.

Mike

Anecdotally, I think that would be a much higher priority. 

I think I-94 needs to be six lanes from where it cuts down to four in Waukesha all the way to Tomah.

Agreed. I never understood how the route between the two most important metros in the state was still mostly only four lanes.

[dvferyance]

I'm wondering if the traffic numbers on I-90/94 between Wisconsin Dells and the Tomah Interchange would warrant upgrade it to six lanes within a reasonable planning period.

Mike

Anecdotally, I think that would be a much higher priority. 

I think I-94 needs to be six lanes from where it cuts down to four in Waukesha all the way to Tomah.

Agreed. I never understood how the route between the two most important metros in the state was still mostly only four lanes.

Making it 6 lanes in Jefferson County would be overkill but I do agree that it should be 6 out to Oconomowoc and again from Portage to at least the Dells.

[SEWIGuy]

I'm wondering if the traffic numbers on I-90/94 between Wisconsin Dells and the Tomah Interchange would warrant upgrade it to six lanes within a reasonable planning period.

Mike

Anecdotally, I think that would be a much higher priority. 

I think I-94 needs to be six lanes from where it cuts down to four in Waukesha all the way to Tomah.

Agreed. I never understood how the route between the two most important metros in the state was still mostly only four lanes.

Making it 6 lanes in Jefferson County would be overkill but I do agree that it should be 6 out to Oconomowoc and again from Portage to at least the Dells.

I-94 traffic counts in Jefferson County are about the same as I-90/94 traffic counts between WI Dells and Portage.  (Low to mid 30,000s)  And I-90/94s stay at about that level until the split at Tomah.

Both are much lower than I-41 between Appleton and Green Bay (40,000s), which is likely why it is a higher priority for expansion at this time.  That's about the same as I-90 south of Madison to the IL border.

[gr8daynegb]

I'm wondering if the traffic numbers on I-90/94 between Wisconsin Dells and the Tomah Interchange would warrant upgrade it to six lanes within a reasonable planning period.

Mike

I'd be for 90/94 from Madison to Tomah be 6 lanes their entire overlap in the state.  But would settle for from going from four to six lanes somewhere between Mauston and Lyndon Station. 

[triplemultiplex]

It continues to surprise me that we made it to the 2020's without extending the six lane portion of I-94 in Waukesha County out to Oconomowoc.  Considering that area's political clout, the genuine utility of such an expansion, the fact that most of the structures can already accommodate a third land, and the fact that it can be done without any additional right-of-way, it's almost weird that it hasn't been done by now.  Alas, it isn't even being studied.

Further west, it makes obvious sense to build the new Wisco River bridges to accommodate 8 lanes.  Not only does that future-proof the crossing, but it makes the replacement way less painful because there's no need for long term lane closures.

Extending six lanes west to the Lake Delton crossing is a no-brainer.  I'm sure that'll get done this decade.  What I'm also interested in is seeing how some of the interchanges north of Madison could be modernized.  Setting aside the Cascade Interchange for a moment (since I've done my own fictional musing on that) I think it behooves us for the interchanges at WI 60, CTH CS and WI 33 to be transformed into diamond interchanges similar to how they did WI 73 and WI 59 south of Madison.  The geometry of the ramps at CTH CS particularly sucks since there's a truck stop there and big rigs are hampered in their accel/decel by even the 'outer' ramps.  Nothing quite like hitting the gore at half the posted speed limit.

I'll just reiterate the idea for a fourth lane between The Beltline and I-94 in Madison.  It simplifies the lane situation as The Beltline merges on NB and it eases the disruption of the left-hand ramps at the Badger Interchange.  No additional r/w is needed and the only changes to structures is to widen/expand the Cottage Grove Road overpass and widen the bridges over the Wisconsin Southern rail line.

When it comes to the Badger Interchange, the fictional cartographer in me wants to try different things to shit-can all the left-hand ramps, but the truth is the interchange functions pretty well as is and the expense of totally re-configuring this junction might not justify the modest improvement in traffic flow.  The left-hand ramps don't knee-cap this interchange due to the distance between it and the next interchange in every direction.  There are miles and miles to get into the proper lane approaching the Badger Interchange from the north, south and east.  (Even west is still really good for an urban interchange).  Additionally, all of the structures are less than 30 years old, having been replaced in the 90's.

So as WisDOT restarts their studies for the triplex corridor, I would advocate leaving the Badger out of that scope for now.  Put that money toward some serious overhauls at US 151 where that kind of expensive work is needed.  The Badger will be fine for another quarter century.

[mgk920]

I'm wondering if the traffic numbers on I-90/94 between Wisconsin Dells and the Tomah Interchange would warrant upgrade it to six lanes within a reasonable planning period.

Mike

Anecdotally, I think that would be a much higher priority. 

I think I-94 needs to be six lanes from where it cuts down to four in Waukesha all the way to Tomah.

Agreed. I never understood how the route between the two most important metros in the state was still mostly only four lanes.

Making it 6 lanes in Jefferson County would be overkill but I do agree that it should be 6 out to Oconomowoc and again from Portage to at least the Dells.

I-94 traffic counts in Jefferson County are about the same as I-90/94 traffic counts between WI Dells and Portage.  (Low to mid 30,000s)  And I-90/94s stay at about that level until the split at Tomah.

Both are much lower than I-41 between Appleton and Green Bay (40,000s), which is likely why it is a higher priority for expansion at this time.  That's about the same as I-90 south of Madison to the IL border.

What are the current and projected traffic numbers on I-41 south of where the six lanes now end at WI 26 in Oshkosh?

BTW, the part of I-41 from WI 15 in Appleton to Scheuring Rd in De Pere is currently programed for six lane upgrade construction in the 2025-2029 time frame.

Also, what are the current and projected traffic numbers on I-94 between WI 35 (east) in Hudson (Hudson or River Falls Interchange?) and the WI 29 Elk Mound Interchange?  That part could also be in line for six-laning.

Mike

[mgk920]

Another that could well be a foreseeable future 'under the radar' six-lane warrant is the fairly short combined section of US 10 and US 45 west of Appleton/northwest of Oshkosh.  That little piece of freeway between the Winchester and Dale interchanges is amazingly busy!

Mike

[SEWIGuy]

I'm wondering if the traffic numbers on I-90/94 between Wisconsin Dells and the Tomah Interchange would warrant upgrade it to six lanes within a reasonable planning period.

Mike

Anecdotally, I think that would be a much higher priority. 

I think I-94 needs to be six lanes from where it cuts down to four in Waukesha all the way to Tomah.

Agreed. I never understood how the route between the two most important metros in the state was still mostly only four lanes.

Making it 6 lanes in Jefferson County would be overkill but I do agree that it should be 6 out to Oconomowoc and again from Portage to at least the Dells.

I-94 traffic counts in Jefferson County are about the same as I-90/94 traffic counts between WI Dells and Portage.  (Low to mid 30,000s)  And I-90/94s stay at about that level until the split at Tomah.

Both are much lower than I-41 between Appleton and Green Bay (40,000s), which is likely why it is a higher priority for expansion at this time.  That's about the same as I-90 south of Madison to the IL border.

What are the current and projected traffic numbers on I-41 south of where the six lanes now end at WI 26 in Oshkosh?

BTW, the part of I-41 from WI 15 in Appleton to Scheuring Rd in De Pere is currently programed for six lane upgrade construction in the 2025-2029 time frame.

Also, what are the current and projected traffic numbers on I-94 between WI 35 (east) in Hudson (Hudson or River Falls Interchange?) and the WI 29 Elk Mound Interchange?  That part could also be in line for six-laning.

Mike

South of the WI-26 interchange, it is in the mid to high 30,000s

On either side of the Elk Mound interchange it is about 30,000.  Only 12,000 on WI-29

It picks up west of there on I-94 until just east of WI-35 where it goes up to the high 40,000s.

[Revive 755]

Per message boards the road, construction is supposed to start on WI 50 (probably for the widening project) in the Kenosha area from the end of the three lane section east of I-41/I-94 to the CP railroad overpass on Monday.  All of the traffic signals in the construction section have already been switched to temporary span wire setups.  Based on construction markings it appears eastbound traffic will be shifted southward with part of the right lane using the existing shoulder.