I-94 Re-Opens Four Lanes In Both Directions

RACINE COUNTY, WI — After more than a year-and-a-half of construction work, increased crashes and some white-knuckle driving, I-94 has now re-opened four lanes in both directions from Highway G in Racine County all the way to the Illinois State Line.

The I-94 North-South construction project began in 2009, and continued along an 35-mile stretch of freeway from the Mitchell Interchange in Milwaukee to the Illinois state line. It stretches through Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha counties, and is divided into three segments.

When Wisconsin Patch reached out to travelers about their experiences earlier in 2019, we were bowled over with responses.

"I make a prayer every day I drive trough this stretch home, knowing one strong gust of wind or slight mistake could be deadly," William Krahn of Waukesha told Patch.

Narrower lanes, uneven pavement, the lack of an emergency lane, heavy traffic volume and changing traffic patterns were all cited by Patch readers as reasons for higher anxiety when hitting the road.

Some drivers told us they grip the steering wheel a little tighter on their way to work, and pray that they don't get into an accident. Others simply took a new route that avoids the highway.

Construction is expected to last until 2021 and have an overall cost of $1.65 billion.