Gov.  Walker wants to push the Zoo interchange project up by a few years and the Journal Sentinel says he will do that by delaying work on I-94.

The JS is referring, presumably, to North-South I-94, which is in the early stages of a $1.9 billion reconstruction and wasteful, unnecessary expansion project.

What exactly is Walker planning? He says his Zoo plan will save taxpayers $600 million. Is Walker going for some sort of private-public scheme? Is the Research Park or any of the medical facilities on the Milwaukee County grounds going to kick in for the project? They are huge beneficiaries and certainly should share the cost.

Will Walker propose tolling the Zoo Interchange? That would technically save taxpayers a chunk of change, but in a press release about his state of the state speech, Walker’s office said his plan would save the state $600 million. A toll would not save the state money — it would just provide another funding source.

It could be that Walker is simply planning to shift money budgeted for the I-94 project to the Zoo Interchange project. That, of course, is just a fund transfer and doesn’t save anything in the long run.

It also is theoretically possible that Walker is committing himself to a reasonable reconstruction of the Zoo Interchange, without unnecessary gewgaws included in the project mainly to line the pockets of his road builder masters. But it’s Walker, so…naaah.

And, of course, there is the big question: where is Walker going to get the rest of the money? Saving $600 million means the state still will have to come up with $1.5 billion or so to reconstruct and expand the Zoo Interchange. The Federal Highway Trust Fund isn’t what it used to be and probably won’t be for a long time to come. So, Skippy, before you start chirping about the great deal you’ve come up with, show us the money.

Your great deal might be something the rest of us can’t afford.