Components - Variable message signs (VMS)
Freeway locations | Surface street locations | Special event locations
Variable message signs inform travelers about upcoming freeway conditions. Signs display current travel times to strategic areas around the city. Signs also display information about lane and ramp closures and where delays start and end.
There are currently 20 variable message signs located on the Milwaukee-area freeway system, 12 on side streets, and two special event signs.
The freeway variable message sign faces are about six feet high and 24 feet wide. The sign face consists of rows and columns of round dots approximately two inches in diameter. The dots in most signs are reflective disks with holes through which fiber optic bundles or LED clusters direct light. The disks are flipped to turn their backs to traffic when switched off. "On" and "off" dots are mixed across the sign face to display words and symbols.
Freeway locations
- I-43 southbound at Locust Street
- WIS 119 westbound at Mitchell Airport
- I-94 eastbound at WIS 16
- I-94 eastbound at Brookfield Road
- I-94 eastbound at Elm Grove Road
- I-94 eastbound at 89th Street
- I-94 westbound at 22nd Street
- I-43/94 northbound at Kinnickinnic River
- I-43/94 southbound at Oklahoma Avenue
- I-94 northbound at College Avenue
- I-94 northbound at County G (Racine)
- I-94 northbound at County C (Kenosha)
- I-43/894 westbound at Loomis Road
- I-43/894 eastbound at 72nd Street
- I-43 northbound at Beloit Road
- I-894/US 45 northbound at Cleveland Avenue
- I-894/US 45 southbound at Greenfield Avenue
- US 45 southbound at Burleigh Street
- US 41/45 southbound at Main Street
- WIS 41 southbound at Cherry Street
- I-43 southbound at County Line Road (Ozaukee County)
Surface street locations
- WIS 18 eastbound at Goerkes Corners
- Capitol Drive eastbound at 124th Street
- National Avenue westbound at Miller Park Way
- Miller Park Way northbound at National Avenue
- National Avenue eastbound at Miller Park Way
- WIS 100 northbound at Edgerton Avenue
- Appleton Avenue eastbound west of WIS 100
- Bluemound Road eastbound west of WIS 100
- Greenfield Avenue eastbound west of WIS 100
- WIS 100 northbound at Lapham Boulevard
- WIS 100 southbound at Walnut Street
- 124th Street southbound at Bradley Road
- Good Hope Road westbound at US 45
Special event locations
- I-94 westbound at 25th Street
- I-94 eastbound at 76th Street
Questions about the content of this page:
Traffic Operations Center, statewide.toc@dot.wi.gov
Last modified: August 1, 2012