PORT WASHINGTON, Wis. — Residents living near the massive Port Washington data center site say the scale of construction is reshaping daily life, bringing near-constant truck traffic, road closures and detours to what was once a quiet, rural area of Ozaukee County.
Construction is underway on the first phase of the nearly $15 billion data center campus located north of downtown Port Washington. The current phase involves clearing and leveling farmland, requiring steady movement of dirt and gravel by dump trucks operating six days a week.
Tracy Shafer, who lives in the Town of Belgium near the construction zone, said the volume and frequency of trucks have been especially disruptive.
"The one time, there were over 12 in less than two minutes," Shafer said. "If they're gonna build it, they're gonna build it. Whatever. You're disrupting our lifestyle."
Shafer said trucks travel past her home from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., six days a week, with some residents reporting vibrations strong enough to make their houses shake.
Neighbors have reached out to TMJ4 News in recent weeks, voicing two primary concerns: extended construction hours approved by the city and traffic disruptions affecting a neighborhood largely made up of rural farmsteads.
Several road closures around the site have made travel more difficult, including closures along Highway LL near the Ozaukee Interurban Trail. Residents say detours have added time to daily commutes and complicated access for farm equipment, deliveries and emergency vehicles.
The project is being built by Vantage Data Centers for Oracle and OpenAI. In a statement to TMJ4, a Vantage spokesperson outlined the construction schedule for the coming months, emphasizing that the current phase is focused on large-scale site preparation.
According to the company, work through April will primarily involve earthmoving operations to level the site. The project also includes wetland protections in compliance with WEPA requirements, installation of perimeter fencing with security and surveillance systems, and preparation of access roads, parking areas and logistics staging zones.
Foundation drilling for the first two buildings is scheduled to begin in mid-to-late January, followed by additional buildings. Steel construction and erection of the superstructure are planned to start toward the end of February, with modular concrete wall installation and exterior building work following steel completion.
TMJ4 News has covered public meetings related to the controversial project throughout the year, including an effort by some residents to recall the city’s mayor over approval of the development. Public reaction has been mixed, with some community members citing economic growth and job creation, while others worry about long-term impacts on traffic, noise and the rural character of the area.
As construction progresses into 2026, residents say they expect disruptions to continue and are watching closely to see how the project’s next phases will affect daily life across Ozaukee County.
Originally reported by Alex Gaul in TMJ 4.
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