November 2, 2023
County Executive David Crowley, Local Officials Break Ground on New Highway Maintenance Facility
MILWAUKEE – County Executive David Crowley, local officials, and stakeholders celebrated the groundbreaking for Milwaukee County’s future Highway Maintenance Facility that will enhance transportation service delivery in the North Region of Milwaukee County.
The current highway maintenance facility on Milwaukee’s north side is obsolete and falls short of meeting today’s operational needs. Adjacent to this existing facility, a new 50,578-square-foot maintenance facility is under construction, nearly doubling its size. This development will significantly boost operational capacity, accommodating more equipment and enabling quicker, more efficient services for Milwaukee County residents, commuters, and visitors.
“We have a responsibility to maintain and enhance our roads and highways. I believe this future development will help ensure all communities – and all residents – in Milwaukee County have equitable access to quality, safe roadways,” said County Executive David Crowley. “This new highway maintenance facility will help expand our workforce and provide more effective and efficient services for the folks that travel throughout our community. Together, we are fostering safer, stronger, and better transportation infrastructure in Milwaukee County.”
The facility will feature HVAC systems, high-efficiency lighting, and other cost-saving devices. This approach aims not only to decrease the facility’s carbon footprint but provide savings in utilities.
“This $13 million project is poised to significantly enhance service delivery in Milwaukee’s northern region through the expansion of operational capacity and the accommodation of additional equipment, resulting in faster and more efficient services for our residents,” said Eduardo Santiago, Highway Director of the Milwaukee County Department of Transportation.
Furthermore, the project encompasses the replacement of the on-site pavement, enabling visitors of both Havenwoods State Forest and Milwaukee County’s Schoenecker Park to enjoy the shared use of the newly revamped parking lot.
Milwaukee County has partnered with VJS Construction Services and Oxeland Group for construction, with Barrientos Design and Consulting leading the architectural services. The facility is expected to be completed in early 2025. Throughout the construction of the new facility, the existing facility will remain fully operational, ensuring the continued provision of services to the community.
“We are thrilled to collaborate on this project, deepening our partnership with Milwaukee County. Our goal is to support communities by ensuring they have access to the essential services offered by Milwaukee County’s Department of Transportation. This underscores our ongoing commitment to creating spaces that positively impact the lives and work environments across Wisconsin,” said Jake Jorgensen, Partner at VJS Construction Services.
The Milwaukee County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is working to modernize and enhance streets and roadways throughout the community to promote safety, accessibility, and efficiency. On Wednesday, County Executive Crowley announced $219,000 in new federal funding to deploy street safety improvements across five municipalities in Milwaukee County. Since 2021, nearly $2 million in federal funding has been awarded to MCDOT.