Sleet and 27th Street Bridge Closure Create Delays for Friday Commuters

Morning Slush and Slick Pavement

Commuters in Milwaukee are facing a messy start this Friday, February 6, 2026, as a fast-moving winter system brought approximately 1.5 inches of snow and sleet to the area before 6:00 a.m. While the precipitation is expected to taper off, the National Weather Service warns that slick spots remain on major thoroughfares. North winds gusting up to 25 mph are also impacting visibility and handling for higher-profile vehicles on elevated freeway segments like the Marquette Interchange.

Major I-94 Construction Impacts

The biggest hurdle for the Friday morning drive remains the recently initiated 'Early East Leg' of the I-94 East-West Freeway Project. Drivers should be aware of the following major closures that went into effect earlier this week and continue to impact traffic flow today:

• 27th Street Bridge: The bridge spanning the Menomonee Valley is closed long-term for a complete rebuild. This critical north-south artery will remain inaccessible until late 2026.
• I-94 Eastbound Exit: The exit ramp to 26th Street and St. Paul Avenue is currently closed and will not reopen until later this summer.
• Utility Work: Intermittent lane shifts are occurring near 28th Street and St. Paul Avenue as crews continue utility relocation for the freeway widening.

With 27th Street out of commission, traffic is being diverted to 35th Street. Expect significant congestion on 35th Street between West Wisconsin and West Greenfield avenues as it absorbs the displaced volume.

Public Transit Detours and Alerts

The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) reports that the PurpleLine is currently operating on a major detour. Due to the 27th Street Bridge closure, buses are rerouting between Clybourn Street and National Avenue. MCTS officials advise riders to allow for an additional 10 to 15 minutes of travel time for all PurpleLine trips.

Additionally, the James E. Groppi Unity Bridge (16th Street Bridge) remains closed for maintenance, with work scheduled to continue through April. Routes normally utilizing this crossing are also experiencing slight delays due to alternate routing.

Commuter Recommendations

To avoid the heaviest bottlenecks, drivers are encouraged to use 13th Street or the Stadium Interchange as alternate routes for navigating the Menomonee Valley. Given the frozen road conditions and active weight-limit increases for maintenance trucks, please give salt spreaders and snowplows plenty of room to operate as they treat the morning slush.