State slows work on Zoo Interchange

DOT pulls back bids as governor focuses on I-94 north-south portion

MADISON - As Gov. Scott Walker seeks to speed up work on I-94 south of Milwaukee, his administration is putting the brakes on some of the work for the Zoo Interchange because of a lack of funding.

Republicans who control the Legislature need to decide whether to borrow $252 million for the north-south portion of I-94 as part of a $3 billion incentive package to lure Foxconn Technology Group to southeastern Wisconsin for a massive television and computer screen plant.

Assembly Republicans have vociferously opposed borrowing more for roads without a tax or fee increase. Senate Republicans have said they’re willing to borrow for roads but won’t go along with tax or fee increases.

A new budget was due by July 1, but lawmakers have not been able to pass a two-year spending plan. In the meantime, funding continues at the levels set for the last fiscal year.

The budget impasse has forced delays on the Zoo Interchange in Milwaukee County. That’s because just $15 million was available for the largest road projects in southeastern Wisconsin in the last fiscal year — a pittance considering the Zoo Interchange and north-south section of I-94 are each expected to cost more than $1.5 billion . Last week, the state Department of Transportation pulled back on bids for work on the north leg of the Zoo Interchange for sewers, a pedestrian path, detention pond and noise barrier. The work was expected to cost $8 million to $11 million.

DOT officials did not say how much the delays could push back the overall project, which is supposed to be finished in 2020.

The budget debate faded into the background last week as lawmakers began to consider the Foxconn legislation. They hope to pass the package in August.

It could force compromises on transportation. Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette), co-chairman of the Legislature’s budget committee, has resisted borrowing efforts but said he might be willing to accept it as part of the Foxconn legislation.

The Walker administration has signaled it believes it can secure a dollar-for-dollar match from the federal government for I-94. That would make more than $500 million in state and federal money available for the project — almost enough to complete it.

The plan in the incentive package would give the Joint Finance Committee the authority to sign off on a bond issue for I-94.

Nygren said whether he could go along with that would depend on how much the state could get from the federal government.

Walker spokesman Tom Evenson said the state DOT is “actively engaged with the federal government to advocate for Wisconsin and receive the highest match possible” for I-94, but didn’t provide details on how much the Walker administration believes it could land.