The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has initiated a process whose goal is a redevelopment plan for Interstate-94 in Milwaukee between 25th and 70th Streets.
Beth Hamedrosh Hagodel Cemetery and Spring Hill Cemetery border the interstate in that area, as does Wood National Cemetery, a veterans’ cemetery.
BHHC is on the north side of the highway near the intersection of Hawley Road and Dana Court. Spring Hill Cemetery is on the south side of the highway off of Hawley Road. Wood National Cemetery straddles both sides of the highway.
Redevelopment of the interstate will affect everyone nearby, including the cemeteries.
The DOT said that its mission is to draft a development plan for the I-94 corridor in order to improve the flow of traffic, handle increased volume of traffic, and enhance safety.
Very proactively, DOT representatives have engaged and held meetings with all of the stakeholders in the area to learn of their concerns. They have been very responsive to the concerns of the cemeteries.
None of its initial proposals suggest anything that would touch the land of the cemeteries that are adjacent to I-94.
Many meetings
Since May 2012, DOT officials and consultants have met with representatives of the Jewish cemeteries and of the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation at a special meeting at MJF’s offices, at Community Advisory Council Meetings, and at public open houses. In addition, representatives of the DOT have toured BHHC.
The cemeteries impressed upon the DOT that their foremost concern is that the redevelopment of the interstate should not require the removal of a grave or affect the use of existing space that is available for future graves.
BHHC also mentioned that any taking of land would remove one of its driveways, leaving only one entrance/exit and presenting a significant operational challenge.
The cemeteries also shared concerns about safety, noise, light, and access (depending upon what happens to the current highway exits), but indicated that the integrity of the cemeteries is still their foremost important concern.
The representatives of the cemeteries and the MJCRC have been delighted with the responsiveness and interest of the DOT officials to date. They have assured our representatives that they have no wish to affect the integrity of any of the cemeteries.
To maintain the cemeteries and enable the highway to expand, DOT officials have formulated a number of scenarios for a double-decker highway. (It is expected that these plans, which the DOT showed to the public at the open houses in early December, will be available soon on the DOT’s website.)
Of course, there are many future steps involved in the approval process, as well as critical funding issues to address. The representatives of the cemeteries and of the MJCRC believe, therefore, that continued watchfulness is prudent.
It is important to emphasize that no decisions have been made by DOT officials or any other governmental body about redevelopment of the corridor.
The cemeteries’ and the MJCRC’s representatives plan to continue to monitor the situation and stay in contact with the DOT. When final plans become available, officials of the cemeteries will offer comments and engage the DOT’s officials.
The cemeteries and the JCRC will also inform their stakeholders of what is happening so that they can share their voices with the DOT.
Aside from articles or announcements in The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle, the cemeteries will be happy to keep you informed by email.
If you wish to be a part of the email list, please send to JewishCemeteriesMkeI94@gmail.com an email with “Include Me” typed in the subject line.
All of us can help by staying abreast of future developments, at appropriate times informing elected officials of our concerns, and attending public meetings that allow all stakeholders of the cemeteries to share their concerns directly with DOT officials.
Working together with the DOT, we will ensure that the reconstruction of I-94 both respects the sanctity of Milwaukee’s cemeteries and serves the needs of the citizens of Milwaukee and beyond.
Rabbi Melech Lensky is executive director of Beth Hamedrosh Hagodel Cemetery.
Loading ...