The Milwaukee Brewers are back, but you’ll probably have to soldier through extra traffic to get to them this season.
Brewers’ Opening Day, Thursday, March 26, is happening amid the years-long, Interstate-94 East-West project that began in late 2025. The project entails major construction along a 3.5-mile stretch between 70th Street and 16th Street, including a redesign of the Stadium Interchange.
The construction may “test the patience” of some fans this season, Brewers Business Operations President Rick Schlesinger said at a March 18 news conference at American Family Field. The Brewers face the White Sox at 1:10 p.m. CT in Milwaukee on Thursday.
Getting out of the ballpark will likely be more difficult than getting in, Schlesinger said.
“Hopefully after the Brewers win on Thursday, people will be in a good mood, and they won’t mind the extra couple of minutes that it will take to get out,” he said.
Here’s what to know if you’re driving to Opening Day.
What parts of I-94 have closed and reopened near American Family Field?
As of March 26, all three lanes of I-94 eastbound between 70th Street and General Mitchell Boulevard are open near the stadium. The long-term lane closure will return by late summer, but travel to the stadium will be a bit easier until then.
Meanwhile, the I-94 westbound lane between the Stadium Interchange and 70th street remains closed long-term, reducing traffic to two lanes. Another lane closure between 35th Street and 25th Street began March 9 and is scheduled to last through late 2026.
A complete list of I-94 closures is available on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation website for the project.
How to drive to American Family Field amid I-94 construction
To help fans plan, state transportation officials launched an interactive website that details how to get to various parking lots around the ballpark based on travel direction.
You can access the website online at brewers.com/traffic or through the MLB Ballpark App. During the season, signs and QR codes around the ballpark will direct fans to the website, Schlesinger said.
The Brewers are working with officials to minimize lane closures during home games, Schlesinger said, along with funding three additional Milwaukee County Sheriff squads and an on-site tow service on game days to manage increased traffic and any accidents or stalled cars.
How to park at American Family Field
American Family Field will once again employ a QR code-based parking payment system, first launched in 2024, for home games this season.
You can either purchase prepaid parking online or buy parking when you get to the stadium. If you pre-pay for parking, you’ll need to scan a QR code on a nearby light pole once you park or use the MLB Ballpark App to activate your parking. If you’re paying onsite, you’ll need to scan one of the same QR codes on a light pole and purchase a parking pass.
More information about parking at American Family Field is available on the Brewers website.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: How I-94 construction will impact Brewers’ Opening Day 2026
Reporting by Maia Pandey, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
