Zoo Interchange North Leg Project wins national safety award

The reconstruction of the Zoo Interchange North Leg won a safety award from a national association for transportation officials.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials gave the Zoo Interchange North Leg Project a regional America’s Transportation Award in the category of ‘Safety – Large Projects,’ the Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced.

The North Leg project called for expanding 1.7 miles of Interstate 41 to eight lanes from Swan Boulevard to Burleigh Street in Wauwatosa. Michels Corp. started construction in early 2021 and the project was completed in November 2023. It was the final segment of the $1.5 billion Zoo Interchange project, which started in 2012.

“Safety is a core value in all that we do,” (WisDOT) Secretary Craig Thompson said in a statement. “Successful projects like the Zoo Interchange, and their corresponding safety impacts, are a direct result from teams working tirelessly to deliver on that value.

Together we are improving our transportation system to enhance safety and mobility for Wisconsinites and visitors,” he added.

The Zoo Interchange experienced a 50% decrease in crash rates over the last year, including a 60% reduction in rear-end crashes, WisDOT officials said. Officials credited freeway expansion with reduced traffic congestion and crashes.

WisDOT will enter the Zoo Interchange North Leg into AASHTO‘s “Top 12” project competition to compete with other states. The award will be announced in early September.