Milwaukee’s Marquette Interchange Safety AuditThe Designer’s Perspective

摘要

The Marquette Interchange is the confluence of I-94, I-43 and I-794 located in downtownrnMilwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A. The existing four-level interchange was opened to traffic inrn1968, and is characterized by left-side system ramp movements. The new Marquette Interchangernis currently being reconstructed as five-levels with all right-side system ramps (see Exhibit A).rnThe entire Marquette Interchange project is better defined as Milwaukee’s downtown freewayrnreconstruction, as the project limits and scope include 5.5 miles of interstate, 23 ramps, 2 millionrnsquare feet of bridge deck and 5 miles of retaining walls. See Exhibit B and www.mchange.orgrnfor more project background and information.rnThe extensive reconstruction in the heavily urbanized downtown comes at a hefty price- $810rnmillion is the all-inclusive program budget. FHWA has classified the Marquette Interchangernreconstruction as a mega-project, which entitles the project to enhanced oversight. FHWArninitiated a road safety audit (RSA) and in December 2003, representatives from FHWA,rnWisconsin DOT and Hamilton and Associates conducted a week-long safety audit of therninterchange project. The design team also assisted in portions of the audit. The design teamrnconsisted of key representatives from Wisconsin DOT’s Marquette Interchange team and itsrnconsultant Milwaukee Transportation Partners (a HNTB-CH2M Hill joint-venture). Following isrna summary of the audit findings and the designer’s responses. Recommendations andrnsuggestions on safety audit best practices are offered for future consideration.