Waukesha County will fix or expand several roads, upgrade its unified voting system and complete its long overhaul of its central courthouse building over the next five years.
County Executive Paul Farrow released a snapshot of the detailed Capital Projects Plan on Aug. 29, highlighting what he considers major elements in the document as the county’s budget season gets underway.
“With the Courthouse Project nearing completion in 2027, the 2026–2030 Capital Plan looks ahead to the infrastructure our community depends on,” Farrow said in emailed statement.
The Capital Projects Plan is an ever-evolving document that lists major expenditures typically involving buildings, roads and equipment that are costly and significant. The 2026-2030 plan won’t be finalized until late October, when the Waukesha County Board votes on the 2026 portions following budget talks this fall.
Here are some of the highlights, (Note, not all costs are borne by the county. Federal, state and municipal dollars are often involved.)
Moorland Road rehab continues in 2027 and 2029
Called “one of the busiest roads in the county highway system,” Moorland Road (Highway O) will be the focus of two projects, a continuation of similar past projects, including the one in 2025.
The first, in 2027, is a 1.5-mile project from Greenfield to Cleveland avenues in New Berlin. The $25.7 million effort involves reconstruction of the road plus safety-oriented changes to intersections and traffic lights. The feasibility of including sidewalks in the project will also be considered.
The second project, in 2029, would stretch 1.2 miles from College Avenue in Muskego to Grange Avenue in New Berlin. Most notably, the $19.6 million project would widen the road there to four lanes, eliminating the only remaining two-lane segment of Moorland.
Planning begins for other Waukesha County projects down the road
The county has prioritized three other projects involving two county highways and six municipalities, though actual construction won’t begin until early in the next decade.
Highway F (Redford Boulevard) would see a $24.5 million major reconstruction project on 1.2 miles from the Interstate 94 junction to Duplainville Road in the City of Pewaukee in 2030 (with design work beginning in 2027). Another 1.5-mile segment from Moreland Boulevard in the City of Waukesha to I-94 in the City of Pewaukee would be designed in 2029 and reconstructed in 2032 as part of a $28.3 million effort.
A 6-mile segment of Highway K (Lisbon Road) from Lynndale Road (Highway JK) to Brookfield Road in the villages of Lisbon, Sussex and Menomonee Falls and City of Brookfield, would be reconstructed in 2031, with design work beginning in 2026. It’s currently estimated as a $123.9 million project that could include a four-lane expansion as part of its reconstruction.
County and communities may share upgraded voting system costs
In what officials are calling a “strategic upgrade,” the Waukesha County election system may change in 2029, but details, including how it will be funded, are still in the works.
The county anticipates initial funding in 2028 for a $2.2 million project “to develop a strategy for the eventual replacement of voting equipment before the end of its useful life,” according to a summary in the CPP document. The goal is to continue a unified election vote counting and reporting system.
The effort would be a partnership, one that already dates back to 2015, with the 27 municipalities within the county. But the county is hoping for something more this time: “establishing a precedent for a cost-sharing arrangement with the municipalities,” according to the CPP document. Initial estimates envision about $700,000 coming from the various cities, villages and towns.
Waukesha County Airport gets further improvements
Enhancements to the county’s Waukesha-area airport will continue, this time involving a key structure.
In a $1.8 million project, the airport’s maintenance and snow removal equipment building plan would be replaced in 2027, if plans hold. Notably, about 95% of the costs would depend on state and federal funds, with the county covering the rest.
Waukesha County Courthouse work scheduled to finish in 2027
It started in 2019, and now Waukesha County’s main campus on Moreland Boulevard will enter the latest stages of its long plan. Most of it still involves the 1959 courthouse building, but other pieces will need work as well.
The courthouse project’s second phase of construction, totaling an estimated $113 million, will continue with renovations and expansions focused on improvements to court operations, building security and efficiency, according to county officials. A large share of the work will occur in 2026, but the project will carry over into 2027.
The capital plan also sets aside funding for roof replacements involving several county buildings, including the mental health center, the juvenile center and the county jail.
Waukesha County Capital Projects Plan includes numerous other costs
In total, the CPP document runs 73 pages, covering many smaller projects such as window replacements, modest maintenances costs and some larger expenses, such as $1.8 million for phone replacements tied to emergency preparedness.
“From highways and transportation corridors to County facilities, we are dedicated to building a safe and thriving environment that respects taxpayers, enhances public safety, and supports growth of local businesses. I am confident that this plan will pave the way for sustainable prosperity in Waukesha County,” Farrow said.
Contact reporter Jim Riccioli at james.riccioli@jrn.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Waukesha County’s big plans include more Moorland Road work and voting system upgrades
Reporting by Jim Riccioli, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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