When we in Milwaukee WI needed to update and make safer two major highway interchanges in the last ten years, we were hit with very similar federal lawsuits. Then it was the Blacks suing for alleged discrimination. It was alleged the 1960s highway construction went more through those neighborhoods so it was discrimination. As we were updating the interchanges, the past discrimination could be raised. Also, it was said Blacks had less access to cars when commuting so the updates helped we rich Whites more.
Absurd? Well, the suit got settled by big payoffs to the plaintiff lawyers, money to Black run community action groups and grants to the local bus system.
At least your Marquette interchange is finished. When I drove through it in 2007, I couldn’t get onto I-794 from I-94/I-43 because some of the ramps were closed.
The Zoo interchange rebuild, on the other hand, goes on and on and on . . .