August 31, 2024

By Lane Kimble

Good things come to those who wait.

Nearly a year after finishing their work and cutting the ribbon on the last stretch of the massive Zoo Interchange Project, prime contractor Michels Road & Stone and a host of other WTBA members can celebrate another special accomplishment: winning a regional award.

Wednesday, the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) announced the Zoo’s North Leg project won AASHTO’s Mid America large-project safety award.

Michels, its numerous and dedicated subcontractors, consultant firm HNTB, and WisDOT expanded more than 1.5 miles of the critical interstate running through Milwaukee County from six to eight lanes, rebuilt interchanges and access ramps, and replaced a railroad bridge over the freeway without interrupting rail service.

CLICK for Zoo Interchange Recap Vid

More than 140,000 vehicles – including 20,000 trucks – use the Zoo corridor daily, making it the “epicenter of the economics of our state,” WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson said during a ceremony in November.

The award makes the project eligible for a national safety award, which AASHTO will announce at its October 2024 conference in Philadelphia.

WTBA extends a hearty congratulations to all WTBA members who played a role in this project!