Bridge Closures and Bitter Cold: Monday Morning Commute Update for Milwaukee

Winter Weather and Wind Chill Advisories

Commuters heading out this Monday, January 26, 2026, should prepare for dangerous wind chill values and potential lingering icy patches. The National Weather Service has issued a cold weather advisory for southeast Wisconsin, including Milwaukee County, in effect until noon today. With wind chill values forecast as low as -20°F and a high temperature only reaching near 19°F, vehicles should be winterized and commuters are encouraged to limit skin exposure. While no major snowfall is expected today, recent light freezing rain from Sunday may have left slick spots on bridges, overpasses, and shaded secondary roads.

Major Artery and Bridge Closures

The most significant disruption for downtown and north-south travelers remains the emergency closure of the 16th Street Viaduct. The bridge is expected to remain closed until April following a failed safety inspection. Drivers who typically use this route should utilize the 35th Street or 6th Street viaducts as alternatives, though these are seeing increased congestion during peak hours.

On the I-94 East-West corridor, utility work ahead of the "Early East Leg" project has necessitated the long-term closure of the 28th Street entrance ramp to I-94 westbound. This closure began in late January and is expected to last for two months. Motorists are advised to use the 35th Street on-ramp as a detour. Additionally, construction on I-43 southbound between Glendale and Grafton continues to impact traffic with periodic lane restrictions and a long-term construction zone that began earlier this month.

Surface Street Lane Shifts

Several permit-based daily closures are in effect today across Milwaukee surface streets:

• WIS 36 (Loomis Rd): Northbound and southbound lanes will see intermittent closures between 6:30 AM and 3:00 PM for utility and maintenance work.
• WIS 24 (Beloit Rd): Expect westbound lane restrictions between 9:30 AM and 2:30 PM.
• WIS 241 (27th St): Daily closures are scheduled from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM, compounding the existing utility work near the I-94 interchange.

Public Transit Alerts

The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) is operating under its Phase I Winter Service Plan, which includes frequency reductions on 16 different routes to manage current budget constraints. Commuters should also be aware of the following:

• Route 33: This route is currently operating with restricted weekday hours, running only from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
• Fare Reminder: As of January 1, the base fare for a single ride has increased to $2.75. Riders using the WisGo card or Umo app should check their balances to ensure they benefit from daily and weekly fare capping.