Marquette Interchange
Encyclopedia
The Marquette Interchange is a major freeway interchange
in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin
, located near Marquette University
where Interstate 43
, Interstate 94
, Interstate 794
, and U.S. Highway 41
meet. Originally built in the 1960s, the interchange was rebuilt between 2004 and 2008, and was officially opened on August 19th, 2008, after what was at the time the largest construction project in state history.
in downtown Milwaukee was first proposed in 1952 for an area south and east of Marquette University
. An artist’s sketch in a local newspaper in December 1952 provided a first glimpse of the future.
The following year, the Milwaukee County Expressway Commission was created by state law to plan, design, construct and maintain a freeway system in Milwaukee County. Land acquisition soon began. In 1955, the Milwaukee County Board
adopted A General Plan of Expressways for Milwaukee County, which included a downtown interchange
near the present location of the Marquette Interchange.
All of this activity in Milwaukee was in no way unique. Many cities across the United States
were drawing up plans for new expressways during the mid-1950s. Nationally, there were big plans, too. In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower
signed the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956
, creating the United States' modern interstate highway system.
Preliminary design on the Marquette Interchange began in 1956, with final design beginning in 1960. In 1964, construction began, and so did a difficult balancing act. For the next 4-1/2 years, traffic flow on city streets had to be maintained while new expressways and the new interchange
were built in their midst. Bypasses
and temporary street connections were used extensively to route heavy volumes of traffic around construction areas.
Between 1964 and 1968, twenty-one construction contracts totaling over $33 million were awarded.
The Marquette Interchange was dedicated and opened to traffic on Monday, December 23, 1968. The interchange was, and still is in its rebuilt form, one of downtown Milwaukee’s most prominent architectural landmarks. In the years to follow, millions of motorists would come to know the interchange as part of their route to work, around town or across the state. The Marquette Interchange has no affiliation with Marquette University, to which it is adjacent. Marquette University officials like to joke about how the university receives complaints from disgruntled motorists who erroneously believe the Interchange is owned by the University.
The interchange was experiencing severe deterioration and traffic problems due to major design flaws, including poorly designed left exits and vehicles having to weave across travel lanes to reach exit ramps, causing accidents and bottlenecks. It underwent a total rebuild dubbed the Marquette Interchange Project between 2004 and 2008, and was officially opened on August 19, 2008, several weeks ahead of schedule. At a cost of less than $810 million, which was well below the projected $1 billion price tag, the project involved 46 cranes and more than 4,000 workers in what was at the time the largest construction project in state history. The project rebuilt the viaduct
section of I-794
between the interchange and the Milwaukee River
, I-43
from the interchange to North Avenue (including the bridges carrying city streets that spanned the freeway), the Hillside Interchange that connected I-43 to Highway 145
, and I-94
from the interchange to 26th Street (including rebuilding the north end of the 16th Street Viaduct, officially known as the James E. Groppi Unity Bridge). The project also demolished the Milwaukee County Courthouse Annex parking structure that stood over the northbound lanes of I-43 just north of the interchange.
occupies the same amount of land as the old one, it feels much more spacious. Design features include:
Interchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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...
, located near Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
where Interstate 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...
, Interstate 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....
, Interstate 794
Interstate 794
Interstate 794 is Interstate Highway spur route in Milwaukee County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is one of two auxiliary Interstates in the Milwaukee metropolitan area and serves the lakefront, the Port of Milwaukee and connects downtown with the southeastern suburbs of St...
, and U.S. Highway 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...
meet. Originally built in the 1960s, the interchange was rebuilt between 2004 and 2008, and was officially opened on August 19th, 2008, after what was at the time the largest construction project in state history.
History
The history of the Marquette Interchange, originally called the Central Interchange, stretches back more than half a century. The idea of a north/south freeway with an interchangeInterchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
in downtown Milwaukee was first proposed in 1952 for an area south and east of Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
. An artist’s sketch in a local newspaper in December 1952 provided a first glimpse of the future.
The following year, the Milwaukee County Expressway Commission was created by state law to plan, design, construct and maintain a freeway system in Milwaukee County. Land acquisition soon began. In 1955, the Milwaukee County Board
Milwaukee County Board
The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors is the legislative branch of the government of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. Supervisors are elected to the board in nonpartisan elections. There are 19 supervisors...
adopted A General Plan of Expressways for Milwaukee County, which included a downtown interchange
Interchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
near the present location of the Marquette Interchange.
All of this activity in Milwaukee was in no way unique. Many cities across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
were drawing up plans for new expressways during the mid-1950s. Nationally, there were big plans, too. In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
signed the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956
Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956
The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, popularly known as the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act , was enacted on June 29, 1956, when Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the bill into law...
, creating the United States' modern interstate highway system.
Preliminary design on the Marquette Interchange began in 1956, with final design beginning in 1960. In 1964, construction began, and so did a difficult balancing act. For the next 4-1/2 years, traffic flow on city streets had to be maintained while new expressways and the new interchange
Interchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
were built in their midst. Bypasses
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....
and temporary street connections were used extensively to route heavy volumes of traffic around construction areas.
Between 1964 and 1968, twenty-one construction contracts totaling over $33 million were awarded.
The Marquette Interchange was dedicated and opened to traffic on Monday, December 23, 1968. The interchange was, and still is in its rebuilt form, one of downtown Milwaukee’s most prominent architectural landmarks. In the years to follow, millions of motorists would come to know the interchange as part of their route to work, around town or across the state. The Marquette Interchange has no affiliation with Marquette University, to which it is adjacent. Marquette University officials like to joke about how the university receives complaints from disgruntled motorists who erroneously believe the Interchange is owned by the University.
The interchange was experiencing severe deterioration and traffic problems due to major design flaws, including poorly designed left exits and vehicles having to weave across travel lanes to reach exit ramps, causing accidents and bottlenecks. It underwent a total rebuild dubbed the Marquette Interchange Project between 2004 and 2008, and was officially opened on August 19, 2008, several weeks ahead of schedule. At a cost of less than $810 million, which was well below the projected $1 billion price tag, the project involved 46 cranes and more than 4,000 workers in what was at the time the largest construction project in state history. The project rebuilt the viaduct
Viaduct
A viaduct is a bridge composed of several small spans. The term viaduct is derived from the Latin via for road and ducere to lead something. However, the Ancient Romans did not use that term per se; it is a modern derivation from an analogy with aqueduct. Like the Roman aqueducts, many early...
section of I-794
Interstate 794
Interstate 794 is Interstate Highway spur route in Milwaukee County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is one of two auxiliary Interstates in the Milwaukee metropolitan area and serves the lakefront, the Port of Milwaukee and connects downtown with the southeastern suburbs of St...
between the interchange and the Milwaukee River
Milwaukee River
The Milwaukee River is a river in the state of Wisconsin. It is about long.- Description :The river begins in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin and flows south past Grafton to downtown Milwaukee, where it empties into Lake Michigan...
, 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...
from the interchange to North Avenue (including the bridges carrying city streets that spanned the freeway), the Hillside Interchange that connected I-43 to Highway 145
Wisconsin Highway 145
State Trunk Highway 145 is a road which connects the northwest suburbs of Milwaukee with the city's downtown. For much of its route, the highway is known as Fond du Lac Avenue....
, and 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....
from the interchange to 26th Street (including rebuilding the north end of the 16th Street Viaduct, officially known as the James E. Groppi Unity Bridge). The project also demolished the Milwaukee County Courthouse Annex parking structure that stood over the northbound lanes of I-43 just north of the interchange.
The new interchange
The new Marquette Interchange was designed to ensure the safe and efficient flow of traffic. Though the new interchangeInterchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
occupies the same amount of land as the old one, it feels much more spacious. Design features include:
- Two lane ramps in both directions between I-94 and I-43
- More gradual curves on ramps, with longer sight distances
- More distance between ramps, to eliminate traffic conflicts from lane changes
- Elimination of all left-hand entrances and exits
- Design features allow for future expansion to an eight-lane freeway
See also
- InterchangeInterchange (road)In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
- Marquette UniversityMarquette UniversityMarquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
- Freeway
- Interstate 43Interstate 43Interstate 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...
- Interstate 94Interstate 94Interstate 94 is the northernmost east–west Interstate Highway, connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain regions of the United States. I-94's western terminus is in Billings, Montana at a junction with Interstate 90; its eastern terminus is the U.S...
- Interstate 794Interstate 794Interstate 794 is Interstate Highway spur route in Milwaukee County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is one of two auxiliary Interstates in the Milwaukee metropolitan area and serves the lakefront, the Port of Milwaukee and connects downtown with the southeastern suburbs of St...
- U.S. Route 41U.S. Route 41U.S. Route 41 is a north–south United States Highway that runs from Miami, Florida to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Until 1949, the part in southern Florida, from Naples to Miami, was U.S...
- Eclipse ParkEclipse Park (Milwaukee)Eclipse Park, also known as Milwaukee Base-Ball Grounds, is a former baseball ground located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. The ground was home to the Milwaukee Grays of the National League during the 1878 season...