When the Marquette Interchange was under construction, I couldn't wait until opened so that the clogs could open up like some magic traffic Drano. But now that it's done, shouldn't things be moving more freely?
Sure, it looks great, the exit-on-the-right philosophy is in line with accepted practices and the traffic in the morning, eastbound from around the stadium -- while still slow -- at least seems to move. It's not a parking lot or anything, but it seems like this expensive, time-consuming project has given us an interchange that is already close to its capacity in the morning.
And at the end of the workday heading westbound, the interchange seems to already be beyond capacity. If you enter at the lakefront, as I do, you've got to immediately make your way across something like four lanes or else be forced to exit north or south. While that's not usually much of a hassle -- although it can seem unsafe at times -- what's amazing is that by the time you pass the Chicago and Green Bay exits, you'd better be starting to brake.
That's because from about 3 or 3:30 p.m. on, westbound traffic is clogged as badly now that the interchange is open as it was when it was still partially closed for repairs and reconstruction. How can this pricey stretch of roadway be so thoroughly inadequate immediately upon opening?
Or is this a sign that there's a problem further west along I-94 that is causing this backup that goes as far as the eye can see? Is it the tangible proof that the Zoo Interchange rebuilding is long overdue?
I'm thrilled that this project finished early and under budget, but what's going on here? What do you think? Let me know using the talkback feature below.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
