Wisconsin State Highway 50 or WIS 50 connects Kenosha’s downtown with Lake Michigan, providing vital connections to hospitals, schools, and shopping districts. Yet the old highway suffered from high levels of traffic congestion, with outdated access management and limited infrastructure for walking, biking, and public transit. To meet the needs of the growing population and provide a more multimodal future, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation undertook a $130 million project to upgrade the highway. The project transformed WIS 50 from a four-lane road into a six-lane urban thoroughfare, enhancing pedestrian and bike accommodations and improving overall safety. A detailed approach ensured equitable facilities for all modes of transportation, including 7.5 miles of surrounding roads for seamless connections to neighborhoods and business centers. Upgrades included on-street bike and pedestrian facilities, updated traffic signals, and visually impaired pedestrian crossing signals at key intersections, further improving accessibility and safety for the community.
America's Transportation Awards 