Program Overview
The largest street rehabilitation and reconstruction projects that DPW Infrastructure manages are led by Major Projects. Many of these projects utilize state and federal funds, and must therefore obtain the approval of other government agencies. Construction of streetscapes, transit facilities, and other large projects on mixed use and commercial streets with many people walking, biking, taking transit and driving are carried out by Major Projects.
These projects often have long, multi-year impacts on the communities with which they are a part of, so DPW’s community engagement efforts are more robust for these projects.
View the Current and Future planned major projects in their corresponding sections, or track all projects on the DPW Infrastructure Project Map.
Street Types
There are several types of streets in the City of Milwaukee. The type of street dictates the potential funding sources for improvements and the responsibility and permitting authority for making those improvements.
State Trunk Highway
This system of highways, which includes the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways and the U.S. numbered highways, constitutes the primary intercounty and intercity highways in Wisconsin.
Example: STH 100
Owner & Permitting Authority: State of Wisconsin
Country Trunk Highway
This system forms the secondary system of highways within the state and creates the interconnecting highways supplementing the State Trunk Highway system. It is comprised mainly of highways of secondary through-traffic importance.
Example: W. Hampton Ave (County EE)
Owner & Permitting Authority: Milwaukee County
Connecting Highway
This system provides continuous routes for State Trunk Highway system traffic over the streets or highways. In 2022, there were 177.14 Connecting Highway miles within the City of Milwaukee. Municipalities are provided Connecting Highway Aid to assist with costs associated with traffic and maintenance; the City of Milwaukee receives over $1.8M annually.
Example: Lake Drive (STH 32)
Owner & Permitting Authority: City of Milwaukee
Local Roads
The balance of streets in the City of Milwaukee are local roads, and the City is responsible for administration and maintenance. There are four different classifications of road based on traffic volume: principal arterial, minor arterial, collector, local street.
Owner & Permitting Authority: City of Milwaukee