When the Milwaukee County Zoo launched a new parking plan last month, its license plate scanning system made headlines. As of April 21, visitors no longer need to stop at the entrance booths before parking. Rather, they pay after they park by scanning a QR code.
One goal of this plan is to improve the experience of zoo visitors, but the county also has emphasized the long-term safety benefits of a connected construction project, to reconfigure the intersection of Bluemound Road and 99th Street.
Until now, that intersection in front of the zoo entrance has had a crosswalk with button-activated flashing lights. Under the new configuration, it will get a four-way traffic signal to improve the flow of traffic while making the intersection safer for pedestrians.
"High-volume attendance days at the zoo can affect the traffic on Bluemound Road and the surrounding neighborhood," the county says on its website. During construction, traffic on Bluemound Road will be reduced to one lane each eastbound and westbound, with an estimated completion date of July 2027.
"We appreciate your understanding and patience as we undergo a better solution for the future," the county said.