Milwaukee I-43 Southbound Lanes Reopen to Two
Wisconsin Department of Transportation restores full two lanes on the Rock Freeway as seasonal traffic shifts take effect.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Construction
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Southbound I-43 between Highway 83 and Highway 164 on the Rock Freeway is back to two full lanes as of Friday morning. Southbound I-43 between Good Hope Road and Silver Spring Drive is open to three lanes.
Why it matters
The seasonal lane reconfiguration affects daily commuters moving through the Milwaukee area's freeway corridor. Lane changes tied to the winter shutdown are helping traffic flow in several areas.
Southbound I-43 on the Rock Freeway is back to two full lanes between Highway 83 and Highway 164, while the segment between Good Hope Road and Silver Spring Drive is open to three lanes. Work on the Rock Freeway project is paused, with the 27th Street Bridge reopening targeted for summer 2027.
The players
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
The state agency responsible for planning, building and maintaining Wisconsin's highway system, including the Rock Freeway and I-43 corridor projects.
The details
Crews are continuing to place steel girders for the new 27th Street Bridge structure. The Rock Freeway project entered its winter shutdown the week of November 16, and a separate I-43 project from Highway 83 toward Bowers Road near Alpine Valley has completed initial preparation work and is in winter shutdown.
Timeline
Week of November 16, 2026: Rock Freeway project enters winter shutdown.
Friday, November 20, 2026: Targeted I-94 west leg traffic shift to winter configuration.
Early 2027: Rock Freeway project work resumes.
Summer 2027: 27th Street Bridge scheduled to reopen.
Construction Calendar
This update follows the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's established pattern of seasonal winter shutdowns on its Milwaukee-area I-43 and I-94 reconstruction projects. It sets up the final I-94 west leg traffic shift scheduled for November 20, 2026, extending a sequence of phased lane changes across the corridor.
Southbound I-43 drivers on the Rock Freeway now have two full lanes between Highway 83 and Highway 164, which can ease congestion during the commute. Drivers heading through the Good Hope Road to Silver Spring Drive stretch can expect three open lanes while winter configurations are in effect.
The takeaway
Seasonal lane changes tied to winter shutdowns can temporarily shift traffic patterns, so drivers may want to allow extra time on affected I-43 and I-94 segments through early 2027.
What happens next
The final I-94 west leg traffic shift is targeted for Friday, November 20, 2026, and the Rock Freeway project resumes in early 2027.
Further reading
For more on regional road and bridge work, see Construction coverage across Milwaukee.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WTMJ.
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