While the 1996 estimates included land acquisition costs, the 2006 estimates do not include real estate costs associated with CTH KR, STH 11 or CTH K.

The state is currently studying reconstruction of I-94 from south of the state line to the Holt Ave. exit in Milwaukee. WisDOT has long considered reconstruction of the interchanges and reconstruction of the pieces of freeway connecting them to be separate projects.

Now, however, the agency also has decided that the reconstruction of three interchanges included in the 1996 environmental assessment should not be included in the 2006 review. They are each considered individual projects.

Those interchanges and the reasons they are being considered separately, according to WisDOT:

• STH 50—an environmental assessment re-evaluation for the STH 50 interchange was already approved in 2004. Construction is planned to begin in 2009. The STH 50 interchange was expected in 1996 to cost $23.8 million to rebuild, the most expensive all the interchanges. Updated figures were not immediately available.

• Seven Mile Road—this interchange is not moving into design phase of planning yet. It will be the subject of a separate re-evaluation when it does. The project in 1996 was expected to cost $18.4 million.

• 27th Street (STH 241) — Minor improvements were proposed for this interchange during the 1996 study, although WisDOT and the Federal Highway Administration are evaluating the conversion of the existing half-interchange (access to and from the south only) to a full interchange as part of the 1-94 North-South Corridor Study. The minor improvements in 1996 were projected to cost $1.3 million.

The new WisDOT report indicates a total of 12 residences and nine businesses will be destroyed for the new interchanges included in both studies; the 1996 report indicated that 10 homes and five businesses would be torn down.

A total of 133 acres of farmland would be acquired at the nine areas, according to the new report, up 53 acres from the 1996 estimate.

"The increase is caused by changes in the proposed interchange design and acquisition of additional right-of-way for stormwater detention ponds," according to the report. "The number of farm operations affected, severances, and access changes are expected to remain similar to those reported in the 1996 EA because the proposed interchange reconstruction concepts have not changed."

The new report said that about 26 acres of wetlands will be affected by the project, more than double the 12.1 acres anticipated in the 1996 report.

The proposed reconstruction projects also will substantially increase the amount of impervious surface and water runoff, according to the new report.

"At the CTH E interchange, which is representative of most of the interchanges in the study area, the existing paved area (not including private driveways and parking lots) is approximately 11 acres, not including 1-94. The proposed reconstruction would result in about 20 acres of paved area," the report said.

The agency is investigating ways to mitigate the impact of the additional runoff and pollution, the report said.

"Threatened and endangered plant species would be affected at the CTH C and CTH G interchanges, the report said. "At the CTH C interchange, five distinct areas containing between 25 and 5,000+ of the state endangered plant, seaside crowfoot (Ranunculus cymbalaria), were identified in 2006. Plants in four of the five areas would be destroyed. The fifth area could potentially be avoided. At the CTH G interchange the special concern plant, reflexed trillium (trillium recurvatum), is scattered throughout three quadrants of the interchange. Many of the locations would not be affected, but some of the plants would likely be destroyed."

*Full disclosure: storyhill.net editor Gretchen Schuldt is CASH co-chair.