Interstate 894
Encyclopedia
Interstate 894 is a 9.3 miles (15 km) auxiliary Interstate Highway in Milwaukee County in the US state of Wisconsin
. The route serves as a bypass (road)
of downtown Milwaukee, connecting with I-94
at the Zoo Interchange
west of downtown and the Mitchell Interchange south of downtown. The route is concurrent
with two other highways for its duration, following US Highway 45
(US 45) from the Zoo Interchange
to Hale Interchange, where it separates from US 45 to follow I-43
heading east to the Mitchell Interchange. It can be used to avoid downtown Milwaukee.
I-894 is part of what was proposed to be an extensive freeway network around the Milwaukee area. The Zoo Freeway portion was completed from Beloit Road northward in 1963, and the Airport Freeway and remaining segment of the Zoo Freeway were completed in 1966. I-43 was routed concurrently with I-894 in 1988.
before its first exit after the interchange; this first exit is a junction with Wisconsin Highway 59 (WI 59), known locally as Greenfield Avenue. After the first three exits, I-894 enters Greenfield
. Further south, I-894 has interchanges with National Avenue, Oklahoma Avenue and Beloit Road. The Interstate turns eastward at the Hale Interchange in Hales Corners
. US 45 turns westbound at that point to follow I-43 west, and I-43 follows I-894 to the east. The highway becomes the Airport Freeway and reenters Greenfield after the Hale Interchange. Westbound I-894 exits to WIS 24 (Forest Home Avenue) after the junction, though the eastbound highway only exits to a nearby local street. I-894 has two more exits after this and meets WIS 36 (Loomis Road) before reentering Milwaukee. It meets WIS 241 (South 27th Street) at exit 9 before terminating at the Mitchell Interchange with I-94, I-43 and US 41
; I-43 continues northbound concurrent with I-94 and US 41.
I-894 passes generally through residential areas for its entire length with the exception of a few commercial districts right next to the freeway. The highway serves as a bypass of downtown Milwaukee. With the approximate distance traveled through downtown via I-94 at 11.8 miles (19 km), I-894 provides a shorter distance for travelers heading to Chicago
or the Mitchell International Airport. The Zoo Freeway portion as of 2007 carries at most 170,000 vehicles per day—with the highest values closer to the Zoo Interchange. The Airport Freeway carries up to 134,000 vehicles per day.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. The route serves as a bypass (road)
Bypass (road)
A bypass is a road or highway that avoids or "bypasses" a built-up area, town, or village, to let through traffic flow without interference from local traffic, to reduce congestion in the built-up area, and to improve road safety....
of downtown Milwaukee, connecting with I-94
Interstate 94 in Wisconsin
In the U.S. state of Wisconsin, Interstate 94 runs east–west through the western, central and southeastern portions of the state.-Route description:A total of of Interstate 94 lie in Wisconsin....
at the Zoo Interchange
Zoo Interchange
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, and US-45...
west of downtown and the Mitchell Interchange south of downtown. The route is concurrent
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with two other highways for its duration, following US Highway 45
U.S. Route 45 in Wisconsin
In the U.S. state of Wisconsin, U.S. Route 45 runs north–south through the eastern and northern portions of the state.-Route description:...
(US 45) from the Zoo Interchange
Zoo Interchange
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, and US-45...
to Hale Interchange, where it separates from US 45 to follow I-43
Interstate 43
Interstate 43 is a intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the U.S. state of Wisconsin, connecting Interstate 39 and Interstate 90 in Beloit with Milwaukee and U.S. Route 41 and U.S. Route 141 in Green Bay. I-43 is the 5th longest intrastate Interstate Highway of the Interstate...
heading east to the Mitchell Interchange. It can be used to avoid downtown Milwaukee.
I-894 is part of what was proposed to be an extensive freeway network around the Milwaukee area. The Zoo Freeway portion was completed from Beloit Road northward in 1963, and the Airport Freeway and remaining segment of the Zoo Freeway were completed in 1966. I-43 was routed concurrently with I-894 in 1988.
Route description
I-894 begins at the Zoo Interchange in Milwaukee with I-94 and US 45. The highway heads south as part of the Zoo Freeway from this interchange concurrent with US 45. North of the Zoo Interchange, US 45 continues separately as the north part of the Zoo Freeway. I-894 enters West AllisWest Allis, Wisconsin
West Allis is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the Milwaukee metropolitan area. The population was 61,254 at the 2000 census. Its name derives from Edward P. Allis, who started the Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company in the 19th century. The site of the town was...
before its first exit after the interchange; this first exit is a junction with Wisconsin Highway 59 (WI 59), known locally as Greenfield Avenue. After the first three exits, I-894 enters Greenfield
Greenfield, Wisconsin
Greenfield is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 35,476 at the 2000 census.-History:Greenfield was originally created as the Town of Kinnickinnic around 1839. On Feb. 19, 1841, the name of the town was changed to Greenfield, taking its name from the name of the...
. Further south, I-894 has interchanges with National Avenue, Oklahoma Avenue and Beloit Road. The Interstate turns eastward at the Hale Interchange in Hales Corners
Hales Corners, Wisconsin
Hales Corners is a village in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,765 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hales Corners is located in southwestern Milwaukee County...
. US 45 turns westbound at that point to follow I-43 west, and I-43 follows I-894 to the east. The highway becomes the Airport Freeway and reenters Greenfield after the Hale Interchange. Westbound I-894 exits to WIS 24 (Forest Home Avenue) after the junction, though the eastbound highway only exits to a nearby local street. I-894 has two more exits after this and meets WIS 36 (Loomis Road) before reentering Milwaukee. It meets WIS 241 (South 27th Street) at exit 9 before terminating at the Mitchell Interchange with I-94, I-43 and US 41
U.S. Route 41 in Wisconsin
In the U.S. state of Wisconsin, U.S. Highway 41 runs north–south the eastern side of the state. It enters from Illinois at Pleasant Prairie, and runs north to its northern terminus at the Michigan border at Marinette, WI.-Route description:US-41 is a freeway for nearly 70% of its route...
; I-43 continues northbound concurrent with I-94 and US 41.
I-894 passes generally through residential areas for its entire length with the exception of a few commercial districts right next to the freeway. The highway serves as a bypass of downtown Milwaukee. With the approximate distance traveled through downtown via I-94 at 11.8 miles (19 km), I-894 provides a shorter distance for travelers heading to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
or the Mitchell International Airport. The Zoo Freeway portion as of 2007 carries at most 170,000 vehicles per day—with the highest values closer to the Zoo Interchange. The Airport Freeway carries up to 134,000 vehicles per day.