Milwaukee’s Marquette Interchange Safety Audit the Designer’s Perspective

This paper describes how the Marquette Interchange is the confluence of I-94, I-43 and I-794 located in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A. The existing four-level interchange was opened to traffic in 1968, and is characterized by left-side system ramp movements. The new Marquette Interchange is currently being reconstructed as five-levels with all right-side system ramps. The entire Marquette Interchange project is better defined as Milwaukee�s downtown freeway reconstruction, as the project limits and scope include 5.5 miles of interstate, 23 ramps, 2 million square feet of bridge deck and 5 miles of retaining walls. The extensive reconstruction in the heavily urbanized downtown comes at a hefty price- $810 million is the all-inclusive program budget. FHWA has classified the Marquette Interchange reconstruction as a mega-project, which entitles the project to enhanced oversight. FHWA initiated a road safety audit (RSA) and in December 2003, representatives from FHWA, Wisconsin DOT and Hamilton and Associates conducted a week-long safety audit of the interchange project. The design team also assisted in portions of the audit. The design team consisted of key representatives from Wisconsin DOT�s Marquette Interchange team and its consultant Milwaukee Transportation Partners (a HNTB-CH2M Hill joint-venture). Following is a summary of the audit findings and the designer�s responses. Recommendations and suggestions on safety audit best practices are offered for future consideration.