I-94 zipper-merge and other road construction issues

[1992casey]

The Department of Transportation is pushing the zipper merge at the long-term lane closure on I-94 westbound between 68th and 84th Streets. I think it's good idea but that it needs to be really heavily publicized for it to work.

[Patrick425]

The Department of Transportation is pushing the zipper merge at the long-term lane closure on I-94 westbound between 68th and 84th Streets. I think it's good idea but that it needs to be really heavily publicized for it to work.

 

You are not kidding. I live in Waukesha and work in Milwaukee,[sarcasm]so the zoo interchange project has been a pleasure[/sarcasm]. Last night was the first night of the one lane being closed going West Bound. I took Canal St. to Miller Park Way and then merged on the WB 94 from there (I don't care what they say...none of the alternate routes they suggest would save you any time or headaches at all). So, I was in the left lane and when I got near the point where that lane ended, the car in front of me merged way too soon. So, instead of following his example and fouling up the whole thing...I went ahead of him behind other cars in the left lane that were trying to follow the zipper merge methodology. So, by the time it was "my turn" I was merging in front of the car that I passed and he/she was not happy about it, but if they had just stayed in the left lane instead of merging at the first opening they saw, that would not have happened! [sarcasm]Oh yeah...I'm really looking forward to my drive home over the next 12 months.[/sarcasm]

[1992casey]

I agree with you that the alternate routes suck. Bluemound Road is unavailable over the Zoo Freeway. Greenfield Avenue is fine west of National Avenue or so, but in downtown West Allis, there's a traffic signal every block.

 

I like using State Street when it's feasible, but I'm not sure that it's all that good for a trek to Waukesha. You'd need to get back to the freeway or Bluemound or Greenfield at some point. The last thing you'd want to do is use the Zoo Freeway to do that. I wonder if Hwy 100 has become better during rush hour now that it's four lanes in each direction.

 

As far as the zipper goes, stick your guns and do it despite those who don't follow directions. Hopefully, with time, these people will become fewer and farther between. The zipper didn't catch on in Minnesota without a huge publicity campaign. There should be ads that people can't miss, such as during Packer games.

[Outlander]

It is going to be very difficult to change how people drive. For all my life I have heard people complain about the drivers that merge at the last second so there are plenty out there who think they are a bad driver if they wait to merge. Having local ads during the Packers game would be a good idea.

[1992casey]

People have been using the zipper effectively for years in Miller Park's lots. It works great unless the Cubs or Cardinals are in town and there are a disproportionate number of vehicles from Illinois.

[Raw Biz]

I agree with you that the alternate routes suck. Bluemound Road is unavailable over the Zoo Freeway. Greenfield Avenue is fine west of National Avenue or so, but in downtown West Allis, there's a traffic signal every block.

 

I like using State Street when it's feasible, but I'm not sure that it's all that good for a trek to Waukesha. You'd need to get back to the freeway or Bluemound or Greenfield at some point. The last thing you'd want to do is use the Zoo Freeway to do that. I wonder if Hwy 100 has become better during rush hour now that it's four lanes in each direction.

 

As far as the zipper goes, stick your guns and do it despite those who don't follow directions. Hopefully, with time, these people will become fewer and farther between. The zipper didn't catch on in Minnesota without a huge publicity campaign. There should be ads that people can't miss, such as during Packer games.

 

I work downtown and live off Bluemound/Hwy 100. I have not taken the freeway home in over a year. I usually take some combination of State and Wisconsin. State seems to be quicker out of downtown than Wisconsin so I will take that and then cut across anywhere from 35th to 68th. I'm not sure if it would save any time going to Waukesha but I'd try taking Wisconsin to Hwy 100 and then either taking Bluemound into Waukesha or Bluemound to Moreland and jumping on the freeway there. Even if it takes a little longer, I'd rather be driving continuously than crawling along the freeway.

[coolcool]

I agree with you that the alternate routes suck. Bluemound Road is unavailable over the Zoo Freeway. Greenfield Avenue is fine west of National Avenue or so, but in downtown West Allis, there's a traffic signal every block.

 

I like using State Street when it's feasible, but I'm not sure that it's all that good for a trek to Waukesha. You'd need to get back to the freeway or Bluemound or Greenfield at some point. The last thing you'd want to do is use the Zoo Freeway to do that. I wonder if Hwy 100 has become better during rush hour now that it's four lanes in each direction.

 

As far as the zipper goes, stick your guns and do it despite those who don't follow directions. Hopefully, with time, these people will become fewer and farther between. The zipper didn't catch on in Minnesota without a huge publicity campaign. There should be ads that people can't miss, such as during Packer games.

 

I work downtown and live off Bluemound/Hwy 100. I have not taken the freeway home in over a year. I usually take some combination of State and Wisconsin. State seems to be quicker out of downtown than Wisconsin so I will take that and then cut across anywhere from 35th to 68th. I'm not sure if it would save any time going to Waukesha but I'd try taking Wisconsin to Hwy 100 and then either taking Bluemound into Waukesha or Bluemound to Moreland and jumping on the freeway there. Even if it takes a little longer, I'd rather be driving continuously than crawling along the freeway.

 

Bluemound/Highway 100 isn't really continuous driving either, as that intersection can take several minutes to drive through. I always found either infuriating experiences that lead me to stay at work until 6:30 or so.

[RobDeer 45]

I remember when the Twin Cities asked people to use the zipper. I remember the local sports guy talking about it and agreeing with it. There was heated debate on it for several days. It was pretty funny. I agree with the move and sometimes you just have to not worry about what others might think as you drive by.

[Patrick425]

I agree with you that the alternate routes suck. Bluemound Road is unavailable over the Zoo Freeway. Greenfield Avenue is fine west of National Avenue or so, but in downtown West Allis, there's a traffic signal every block.

 

I like using State Street when it's feasible, but I'm not sure that it's all that good for a trek to Waukesha. You'd need to get back to the freeway or Bluemound or Greenfield at some point. The last thing you'd want to do is use the Zoo Freeway to do that. I wonder if Hwy 100 has become better during rush hour now that it's four lanes in each direction.

 

As far as the zipper goes, stick your guns and do it despite those who don't follow directions. Hopefully, with time, these people will become fewer and farther between. The zipper didn't catch on in Minnesota without a huge publicity campaign. There should be ads that people can't miss, such as during Packer games.

 

I work downtown and live off Bluemound/Hwy 100. I have not taken the freeway home in over a year. I usually take some combination of State and Wisconsin. State seems to be quicker out of downtown than Wisconsin so I will take that and then cut across anywhere from 35th to 68th. I'm not sure if it would save any time going to Waukesha but I'd try taking Wisconsin to Hwy 100 and then either taking Bluemound into Waukesha or Bluemound to Moreland and jumping on the freeway there. Even if it takes a little longer, I'd rather be driving continuously than crawling along the freeway.

 

Bluemound/Highway 100 isn't really continuous driving either, as that intersection can take several minutes to drive through. I always found either infuriating experiences that lead me to stay at work until 6:30 or so.

 

Problem is that if you are going all the way out to Waukesha you either have to get on the Freeway at some point or continue to take Bluemound, Greenfield, or whatever other "side road" all the way out there. If you decide to hop back on the freeway at Hwy 100 or Moorland, then you are stuck on the metered on-ramp forever. And as coolcool stated, taking all those streets all the way out to Waukesha is not a good option as many times you are stuck at an intersection for 2 or 3 light changes.

 

I-94 has actually not been horrible this week. A lot of people are taking alternate routes, so the speeds up to the stadium interchange have increased. It just comes to a slow crawl there until you get past the merge point. The last couple of nights I stayed in the right hand lane, but after observing the traffic last night I will try the left hand lane tonight. Even though I'll have to deal with all the idiots that don't understand the zipper merge concept (last night I witnessed a van taking up both lanes because he didn't want cars to pass him and go all the way up to the point of where you are supposed to merge), it's still looked to be a bit quicker.

 

One of the other problems in regards to getting the word of the zipper merge out is the placement of the DOT signs and the messages they have on them. The merge is the left lane to the middle lane, but they have a sign the right side of the freeway, about a half mile before the merge point, that states something like "Stay in your lane/Do not merge". This sign should be placed on the left side of the freeway (where the people effected by the merge can see it) that states something like "Do not merge now/Merge at the merge point"

[Outlander]

Even though I'll have to deal with all the idiots that don't understand the zipper merge concept (last night I witnessed a van taking up both lanes because he didn't want cars to pass him and go all the way up to the point of where you are supposed to merge), it's still looked to be a bit quicker.

I wish those types of people would get tickets, all they do is cause road rage and bigger backups

[1992casey]

The DOT's website is really confusing, but from what I can tell, the Hwy 100 & I-94 interchange should be fully opened within the next couple of days. I wonder if the Hwy 100 and Bluemound intersection will become a more pleasant experience with all of the renovations completed. Like Patrick, I can't handle sitting through multiple light changes at the same intersection, especially when red lights can last for two minutes. I can usually handle metered ramps, though.

 

I think that every option is going to have some sort of sucky aspect. It's a matter of picking the suckiness that bugs you the least. That could be just as much subjective as it would be objective.

[Raw Biz]

The DOT's website is really confusing, but from what I can tell, the Hwy 100 & I-94 interchange should be fully opened within the next couple of days. I wonder if the Hwy 100 and Bluemound intersection will become a more pleasant experience with all of the renovations completed. Like Patrick, I can't handle sitting through multiple light changes at the same intersection, especially when red lights can last for two minutes. I can usually handle metered ramps, though.

 

I think that every option is going to have some sort of sucky aspect. It's a matter of picking the suckiness that bugs you the least. That could be just as much subjective as it would be objective.

 

Since I live there, I'm faced with the Hwy 100/Bluemound intersection everyday. And I never use it. Honestly it's not bad if you just use Potter to cut across to any number of streets, then just on Bluemound (if you're going west).

 

Taking Wisconsin, the lane to turn left on Hwy 100 is always like a 3 light change wait. But if you turn right on Hwy 100, you can bypass everyone and take the first left on Potter. Then you only have one red light to wait at and sometimes it's green by the time you get there. Take a left on 109th, 112th, 115th, etc. and you come out on Bluemound, saving yourself at least 5 minutes, if not more.

[BrewersSuperCollector]

The DOT's website is really confusing, but from what I can tell, the Hwy 100 & I-94 interchange should be fully opened within the next couple of days. I wonder if the Hwy 100 and Bluemound intersection will become a more pleasant experience with all of the renovations completed. Like Patrick, I can't handle sitting through multiple light changes at the same intersection, especially when red lights can last for two minutes. I can usually handle metered ramps, though.

 

I think that every option is going to have some sort of sucky aspect. It's a matter of picking the suckiness that bugs you the least. That could be just as much subjective as it would be objective.

 

Since I live there, I'm faced with the Hwy 100/Bluemound intersection everyday. And I never use it. Honestly it's not bad if you just use Potter to cut across to any number of streets, then just on Bluemound (if you're going west).

 

Taking Wisconsin, the lane to turn left on Hwy 100 is always like a 3 light change wait. But if you turn right on Hwy 100, you can bypass everyone and take the first left on Potter. Then you only have one red light to wait at and sometimes it's green by the time you get there. Take a left on 109th, 112th, 115th, etc. and you come out on Bluemound, saving yourself at least 5 minutes, if not more.

 

Unless you hit the train.

[Raw Biz]

The DOT's website is really confusing, but from what I can tell, the Hwy 100 & I-94 interchange should be fully opened within the next couple of days. I wonder if the Hwy 100 and Bluemound intersection will become a more pleasant experience with all of the renovations completed. Like Patrick, I can't handle sitting through multiple light changes at the same intersection, especially when red lights can last for two minutes. I can usually handle metered ramps, though.

 

I think that every option is going to have some sort of sucky aspect. It's a matter of picking the suckiness that bugs you the least. That could be just as much subjective as it would be objective.

 

Since I live there, I'm faced with the Hwy 100/Bluemound intersection everyday. And I never use it. Honestly it's not bad if you just use Potter to cut across to any number of streets, then just on Bluemound (if you're going west).

 

Taking Wisconsin, the lane to turn left on Hwy 100 is always like a 3 light change wait. But if you turn right on Hwy 100, you can bypass everyone and take the first left on Potter. Then you only have one red light to wait at and sometimes it's green by the time you get there. Take a left on 109th, 112th, 115th, etc. and you come out on Bluemound, saving yourself at least 5 minutes, if not more.

 

Unless you hit the train.

 

Ha yeah I've done that. Sucks.

[1992casey]

Good call on the 115th Street train crossing, BrewersSuperCollector. I was going to suggest trying Watertown Plank Road through Elm Grove to Pilgrim Parkway/Moorland Rd. It's 25mph through Elm Grove, but there aren't a lot of stops. A train in downtown Elm Grove can occasionally throw a lovely monkey wrench into that plan too.

 

The big news in the last 24 hours is the closure of the Jackson - Van Buren off ramps at the lakefront to accommodate Phase 2 of the Hoan Bridge project. The closure coincides with traffic being moved to the newly completed western span of the bridge. Traffic coming from the north, the zoo, or the airport will need to exit west of the river to get to into downtown.

 

Lost in all the Jackson - Van Buren hubbub is the effect on drivers using the Hoan Bridge. Rather than including that information, the TV channels seemed to prefer to interview drivers bemoaning the loss of a handy exit ramp.

 

As far as I can tell, the only access limitation is the inability to get onto the bridge at Lincoln Memorial Drive to head southward toward Bay View. We lost that ability a year ago, so that's not new. Previously, following the detour signs was easy enough; I hope that's still the case.

 

One nice accommodation on the Hoan Bridge is the use of movable barriers. There are always two lanes open in the direction of heavier traffic.

 

Also, it appears that the Hwy 100 & I-94 ramps are now fully open.

[Patrick425]

As I feared it would once the Holidays were over, I-94 WB has officially become a nightmare during evening rush hour. Basically you can count on at least a half hour drive from downtown to Moorland between 4:30 and 5:30 every weeknight. On a clear day, the setting sun does not help issues. Last week one day I took Wells to about 30th(?) then over to Wisconsin ave then to Bluemound and got on I-94 at 68th street. I think that may have saved 5 minutes.

 

Can't wait to see how it is when there are Brewer day games!

[1992casey]

I took Hwy 100 from Potter Road to the freeway during the peak of rush hour a couple of weeks ago. At first, it looked like the Bluemound Road intersection would be terrible, but it turned out to be fine. I wouldn't be surprised if that intersection got worse when the Bluemound Road bridge over the Zoo Freeway opens, though.

[1992casey]

I went through the zipper today. I was surprised that it was as backed up as much it was on a Sunday in the early afternoon.

 

A few people merged early, and that was enough to make it worse than it had to be. When the signs say "Stay in your lane" and "Don't merge," drivers should stay in their lanes and not merge. Merge where it says "merge here."

 

This probably wouldn't happen on a weekday, but today, the left lane was underutilized. It would have been better had traffic been spread out evenly.

[bacon06]

People have been using the zipper effectively for years in Miller Park's lots. It works great unless the Cubs or Cardinals are in town and there are a disproportionate number of vehicles from Illinois.

Even though I'll have to deal with all the idiots that don't understand the zipper merge concept (last night I witnessed a van taking up both lanes because he didn't want cars to pass him and go all the way up to the point of where you are supposed to merge), it's still looked to be a bit quicker.

I wish those types of people would get tickets, all they do is cause road rage and bigger backups

 

A semi rolled over on northbound I-43 today in northern Sheboygan county and traffic was being directed to use an exit causing a little bit of a back up with people merging to exit. I was in the left lane when I got to the stop and go traffic and, remembering this thread, was going to stay in my lane until I got to the sign directing me to merge. The vehicles in front of me were merging immediately, when they cleared, I kept going. This is when I encountered a big SUV with Illinois license plates and a Cubs window decal that was straddling the center line. I crept up on it, saw he wasn't going to pick a lane, and then move over to the left a little bit on the shoulder to navigate around him. As I did this, the driver, with a backwards Cubs hat on, proceeds to give me the finger as I pass him.

 

So I want to thank this gentleman for reminding me why I did not want that franchise to ever win a World Series again.