September 9, 2025

By Lane Kimble

Glance at either side of I-94 in western Waukesha County and you’ll quickly notice there’s been a massive amount of growth.  There’s a Fleet Farm, a Roundy’s distribution hub, large scale housing projects, a major hospital, a new baseball stadium, and (soon) Costco, just to name a few.

That growth brings added traffic, which means the four-lane freeway needs to grow with it.

Last week, WTBA joined nearly two dozen businesses, banks, and associations in a letter urging the Transportation Projects Commission to recommend a study to expand the I-94 corridor.

“This is not just a transportation issue, it’s a workforce and economic development issue. As Wisconsin seeks to attract advanced manufacturing and other industries, modern, efficient infrastructure must be a priority,” the letter said.

About 75,000 vehicles pass through the area via I-94 every day, according to WisDOT data.

Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow pushed to include funding for the expansion study in the 2025 state budget but Gov. Tony Evers vetoed the plan, saying it needs to go through the standard procedure of TPC study and enumeration.

The TPC receives reports on major and mega highway projects twice a year.  Every December, the commission meets and recommends projects for study in odd-numbered years and recommends projects for funding in even years.