Major Viaduct Closures and I-94 Reconstruction Impacting Thursday Commutes

Significant Construction Impacts on Major Arteries

Commuters in Milwaukee this Thursday, February 26, 2026, are facing substantial disruptions due to the ongoing expansion of the I-94 East-West project and critical viaduct maintenance. The most significant impact remains the long-term closure of the 27th Street Bridge over I-94, which began earlier this month. This closure, coupled with the shutdown of the eastbound exit ramp to 26th Street and St. Paul Avenue, has forced heavy traffic onto local alternates. Motorists who typically rely on the 27th Street corridor to access the Menomonee Valley or Potawatomi Casino Hotel should plan for significant delays and utilize the 13th Street or 35th Street exits as primary detours.

Viaduct and Bridge Closures Across the City

The city's north-south connectivity continues to be constrained by multiple viaduct closures. The 27th Street Viaduct over the Menomonee River is currently closed for reconstruction through late 2026. Additionally, the 16th Street Viaduct remains inaccessible to most traffic, requiring commuters to reroute via the 6th Street Viaduct or the 35th Street Bridge. In western Milwaukee, the I-94 'West Leg' reconstruction has also shuttered the General Mitchell Boulevard entrance ramp to I-94 westbound and the eastbound exit to Mitchell. Hawley Road is also seeing restricted access at the I-94 interchange, part of a multi-year project expected to last through 2028.

MCTS Transit Alerts and Detours

Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) riders should be aware of several major detours active today. Of particular note, the GreenLine began a new detour yesterday, February 25, off Oakland Avenue between Capitol and Hampton, which remains in effect. Other current service impacts include:

• PurpleLine: Detouring off 27th Street between Clybourn and National due to bridge work.
• Route 60: Detouring off Hawley Road from Bluemound to Main Street.
• Route 44U: Detouring eastbound due to the closure of the 68th and Kearney on-ramp.
• Route 18 & Route 24: Facing ongoing detours related to the I-94 and National Avenue utility projects.
• Route 3 (RR3): Redirected to use the 6th Street Viaduct instead of the 16th Street Viaduct.

Commuters are advised to leave at least 15 to 20 minutes early this morning to navigate these bottlenecks. While the MCTS Spring Service changes are not slated to begin until March 8, the current construction-related detours are permanent for the foreseeable future. Use the Umo app for real-time bus tracking as construction often leads to intermittent schedule shifts.