I-94 Lane Closures and 27th Street Viaduct Demolition Create Sunday Delays

Major I-94 Construction and 27th Street Viaduct Closures Impact Sunday Travel

Good morning, Milwaukee. As we begin the month of March 2026, the ongoing I-94 East-West Freeway project continues to be the primary driver of traffic delays across the city. Whether you are heading to the Mitchell Park Domes for the Garden Train Show or commuting for work, several key arterial closures will require extra travel time this morning.

I-94 East-West Freeway Impacts

Significant lane and ramp closures remain in effect as part of the Early East Leg of the freeway reconstruction. Drivers should be aware of the following major disruptions:

• I-94 Eastbound: A long-term single-lane closure is active between 35th Street and 25th Street. This restriction is expected to remain in place through late 2026.
• Ramp Closures: The 35th Street entrance ramp to I-94 eastbound is completely closed. Additionally, the I-94 eastbound exit to 26th Street/St. Paul Avenue is offline for reconstruction work.
• Mitchell Boulevard: Access remains restricted at General Mitchell Boulevard. The I-94 eastbound exit to Mitchell Blvd and the entrance to I-94 westbound are closed. Travelers should utilize detours via WIS 175 or 84th Street.
• I-894 Disruptions: On the south side, the 76th Street entrance ramp to I-894 eastbound and the I-894 eastbound exit to 60th Street are currently closed for noise wall construction. They are not scheduled to reopen until next weekend.

Surface Street and Viaduct Alerts

The 27th Street Viaduct over the Menomonee River is now fully closed to traffic. This closure is essential for the reconstruction of the bridge structure over the freeway. Motorists are encouraged to use Wisconsin Avenue, 35th Street, and Greenfield Avenue as primary detour routes. On the city's north side, prep work is visible on North 76th Street (WIS 181) between Florist Avenue and County Line Road. While the full $13.4 million resurfacing project officially begins tomorrow, March 2, motorists should expect early lane shifts and increased signage today.

Public Transit Detours

The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) is operating on its Sunday schedule. Construction has forced several long-term detours that riders should account for:

• PurpleLine: This route is currently diverted away from 27th Street between Clybourn Street and National Avenue in both directions.
• Route 44U: Eastbound service is detouring due to the closure of the 68th Street and Kearney Street on-ramp.
• Airport Service: Route 80 and the GreenLine continue to detour at Mitchell International Airport, bypassing the cell phone lot and utilizing adjusted stop locations.

Commuters should plan for an additional 15 to 20 minutes for cross-town travel today, particularly when navigating the I-94 corridor or the near west side. Stay safe and allow for extra following distance in active work zones.