What if Milwaukee’s downtown transportation system reflected the city we are today?
Since WisDOT's I-794 Lake Interchange Study was announced in 2022 it has been the goal of “Rethink 794”, a local volunteer coalition, to expand the limited scope of the project from one that simply replaces aging infrastructure to one that considers the vast community benefits beyond highway infrastructure in this vital section of Milwaukee’s Downtown. It is our belief that the highway-to-boulevard option is not only viable, but provides the most benefits to the community, region and State of Wisconsin for long-term prosperity and wellness.
Reconnect Neighborhoods
Since the I-794 Lake Interchange Study was announced in 2022 it has been the goal of “Rethink 794”, a local volunteer coalition, to expand the limited scope of the project from one that simply replaces aging infrastructure to one that considers the vast community benefits beyond highway infrastructure in this vital section of Milwaukee’s Downtown. It is our belief that the highway-to-boulevard option is not only viable, but provides the most benefits to the community, region and State of Wisconsin for long-term prosperity and wellness.
Imagine More of the Third Ward
The Third Ward’s transformation shows what is possible when Milwaukee invests in walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods. Today, the neighborhood has more than 2,700 residents, and its Census tract grew by 70% between 2000 and 2010, making it the fastest-growing Census tract in Milwaukee and the sixth fastest in Wisconsin (Thomas 2021). Its ongoing success is shaped by many factors, including historic preservation, public investments, new housing, local businesses, and places that prioritize walking and gathering.
For decades, I-794 has created a barrier between the Third Ward and Downtown and prioritizes moving people through rather than creating abundant places for people to spend time. The construction of the highway displaced homes, businesses, and gathering places that were important to Milwaukee communities, including the Blessed Virgin of Pompeii Church, a cornerstone of Milwaukee's Italian-American community. While we cannot undo that history, reimagining I-794 gives Milwaukee an opportunity to extend the vibrancy of the Third Ward, reconnect communities, and create a place where future generations can live, gather, and thrive.
Build Streets for Everyone
Removing I-794 presents an opportunity to turn Clybourn into a two-way boulevard that is safer, more connected, and welcoming for everyone. While downtowns are often designed as places where people can walk, gather, and spend time, most of Clybourn Today functions as a highway corridor rather than a neighborhood street.
Walking along Clybourn, it's easy to see why. People navigating the area are surrounded by noise, speed, and scale of an elevated freeway, with vehicles traveling at highway speeds overhead and nearby. A surface-level boulevard would create space for safer travel, welcoming public space, and stronger connections to downtown businesses and destinations.
A New Street for Connection
Infrastructure can isolate us or facilitate connection. It's a matter of design and intention. By rethinking I-794, Milwaukee has the opportunity to create a new neighborhood shaped by community needs: one that reconnects people to each other, expands housing opportunities, supports local businesses, and creates pathways for residents to benefit from future growth.
One vision for this space is a new people-centered street that prioritizes walking, biking, gathering, and community life. This 70-foot-wide corridor could become a shared public space at the heart of Milwaukee’s new neighborhood, with seating areas, gathering spaces, and connections to Lake Michigan and the Milwaukee River. Thoughtful redevelopment can create opportunities for local entrepreneurs, community-led projects, and inclusive economic growth while ensuring that new investment strengthens the people and communities that make Milwaukee unique.
Creating Unique Public Spaces
How do we make better decisions for Milwaukee by learning from our past mistakes? What if a piece of highway infrastructure could become a community asset instead? The I-794 eastbound bridge over the Milwaukee River presents a unique opportunity: rather than removing a structure that supports critical utilities, we can reimagine it as a year-round public space. Since WE Energies’ steam pipe runs along the bridge deck, adaptive reuse could avoid major utility disruptions while transforming an existing piece of infrastructure into something that serves the community.
1999 THIRD WARD COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
“[Elevated highways] present significant psychological barriers to pedestrian travel: they loom over the street blocking the sun and are, altogether, out of scale for pedestrians. … Few pedestrians intentionally walk through these areas. This pedestrian “disconnection” diminishes the value and vibrancy of the severed neighborhoods.”
WORKS CITED
“1999 Downtown Plan.” 1999. City of Milwaukee Department of City Development. Milwaukee. https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/cityDCD/planning/plans/downtown1/1999-Downtown-Plan/DPPart5Streets.pdf.
City of Milwaukee Staff. 2006. “Third Ward Neighborhood Comprehensive Plan.” City of Milwaukee. July 2006. https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/cityDCD/planning/plans/ThirdWard/plan/TWPlan.pdf.
DCD Staff. n.d. “Park East Freeway - History and Removal.” City of Milwaukee Department of City Development. Accessed April 20, 2022. https://city.milwaukee.gov/DCD/Projects/ParkEastredevelopment/Park-East-History.
Point2 Staff. n.d. “Historic Third Ward Demographics.” Point2. Accessed May 3, 2022. https://www.point2homes.com/US/Neighborhood/WI/Milwaukee/Historic-Third-Ward-Demographics.html.
Snyder, Alex. 2016. “Freeway Removal in Milwaukee: Three Case Studies.” Theses and Dissertations. May 1, 2016. https://dc.uwm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2254&context=etd.
Thomas, Arthur. 2021. “Public Record: Where Is Milwaukee County Growing?” BizTimes. September 26, 2021. https://biztimes.com/public-record-where-is-milwaukee-county-growing/.