An injection of $25 million in federal money will be used to improve safety on Milwaukee’s National Avenue in an upcoming state replacement project for the roadway while offsetting local funds earmarked for the project.
The funding will be used on a significant portion of the street, from First Street to 39th Street, and include improvements like raised bike lanes, crosswalks and improved sidewalks. The 2.6-mile-long project has been in the works for the city’s south side since 2020, when it was announced by city leaders.
“Whether you’re taking a bus, driving, biking, or walking, every Wisconsinite deserves to feel safe on our roads,” U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin said in a press release announcing the funding.
The funding replaces about 69% of the total estimated project costs, which previously were to be covered through a combination of federal, state and local funds, Wisconsin Department of Transportation Director of Communications John DesRivieres said in an email.
The intersection of West National Avenue and South Layton Boulevard is daunting for pedestrians. West National Avenue is to undergo major road work that includes safety improvements.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s project page, the replacement will reduce National from four lanes to two, improve street lighting and update traffic signals. It will also include the replacement of its pavement, curbs and some sidewalks, and replace storm sewers.
Construction is scheduled for late spring or early summer 2026, according to DesRivieres. The project is scheduled to go up for bidding in March 2026, and the grant funds are expected to be delivered before then, he said.
The grant will offset about $2.5 million in local funds planned for the project, said Tiffany Shepherd, spokesperson for the city’s Department of Public Works.
Baldwin and U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, advocated for the project with the U.S. Department of Transportation, and it received funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which the senator supported, the press release said.
That law’s funding went to the federal DOT’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity program, which provided the $25 million for the National Avenue project.
Moore said the project would “reimagine the corridor and make needed enhancements that advance safety and equity.”
“Here in Wisconsin, we’ve gotten to work fixing the darn roads and ensuring our state’s infrastructure is ready for a 21st-century workforce and economy, but we know our work continues,” Gov. Tony Evers said in the press release.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee road project receives $25 million in federal funding