Source: Urbex Solutions A recent post on reddit sparked discussion about the economic tradeoffs of urban highways and theories about why or why-not development happens adjacent to freeways. The map above, created by Urbex Solutions, was shared in addition to the post and raises interesting questions for Milwaukee: How much economic potential is tied up in the land occupied by urban highways? What is the opportunity cost of a centrally located urban freeway? Looking more close

Rethink 794 concluded our Walk & Roll series with our final route looping around the Clybourn Bridge closure. The audit took place on Wednesday, May 27th near the end of peak rush hour. To view a summary of observations and route map, you can find a brief report of the walk-roll audit below: On the route, participants noted fragmented and incomplete pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, especially near the freeway ramps west of the river. The observation reinforces a consist

We attended the public meetings for WisDOT’s Lake Interchange last month and have some takeaways from the presentation materials. After this round of meetings, it’s clear to us that WisDOT’s traffic study is constrained in part by the traffic model limitations, including pedestrian & bicycle infrastructure, and the incomplete or conservative transit expansion data and land-use assumptions. The flaw with current traffic modeling is that they're highly sensitive to the assumpti

Join us as we navigate the freeway’s impact today, explore opportunities for what’s possible, and form recommendations for a more connected downtown. We'll meet at the Cambria Hotel Milwaukee Downtown (Clybourn and Plankinton). Participants will embark on a ~30-minute facilitated walk-roll audit, then return to the Cambria Hotel conference room for discussion and a tactile approach to creating a vision for the corridor through a creative urban planning exercise. Those that us

In conversations about what WisDOT should do about I-794, a common reaction to the removal-to-boulevard alternative is concern that vehicle traffic and congestion will increase and cause gridlock downtown. This concern comes from the assumption, which WisDOT uses, that vehicle traffic is like water; the volume will stay the same and disperse across the grid. We agree with this assumption, in part. We also believe that the existing street-grid downtown and a well-designed mult

This March, we had opportunities to connect with more community members in open dialogues and in first-hand experience of the corridor on our second Walk & Roll event. Connecting with Runners Year-round, the Buena Tierra Run Club gathers at Zócalo Food Park before starting their Wednesday running route toward the lakefront through the Third Ward. Zócalo is located just a couple blocks south of the 6th street bridge – just one of the main connection points between Walker’s Poi

Join the Rethink 794 team for our 2nd Walk & Roll event. We'll meet at the entrance of the US Bank Center on the corner of Wisconsin and Van Buren. Participants will embark on a ~30-minute facilitated walk-roll audit, focusing on the Clybourn and Lincoln Memorial Drive intersection, then return to the US Bank Center at the Cass st and Wisconsin Ave. entrance and head to the Colectivo on the galleria level (2nd floor) for discussion and light refreshments. Those that use wheel

On January 22, 2026, WisDOT released a summary of the findings from 842 public comment submissions from the November 2025 Lake Interchange Study public meetings. Here are some of our initial thoughts: The structure of the survey and summary report prioritizes freeway travel as the dominant lens for assessing impact on mobility in this corridor, while underrepresenting other forms of mobility and leaving out accessibility. This was not unexpected. However, the decision not to

A report of our preliminary findings from the first Walk & Roll 794 event are now available to view. The event took place on November 18th at 12pm and covered a western segment of I-794, adjacent to the Marquette Interchange. Read the full report here or through our new content library and let us know what you think! What's next? WisDOT’s Lake Interchange study page remains open for public comment . Submit comments to their public comment form through December 5th. Engage y

Join the Rethink 794 team for the first in a series of three “walk & rolls” along a segment of the I-794 corridor. We'll meet at the front of Stone Creek - Factory Cafe, review our route and goals, then begin our walk and roll. The walk will be ~30 minutes, facilitated by members of our citizen advocate team. The route will end back inside of Stone Creek where will discuss our findings and opportunities for a reimagined corridor. Those that use wheelchairs, bicycles, or mobi

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is hosting its third series of public open houses on Tuesday, November 4th and Wednesday, November 5th to update the community on the I-794 Lake Interchange Study. This is your chance to engage directly with WisDOT staff, review the defined alternatives—including Freeway Removal—and learn more about the upcoming Environmental Impact Statement process. This is a critical moment to show strong community interest in the freewa

UWM students in the 794 Urban Design Seminar this past semester published their findings in a book, Freeway to Skyline: I-794: What's Possible? Book cover for Freeways to Skyline Below is the description from the MINDS webpage: The UWM 794 Urban Design Seminar explored the long-term potential – If I-794 is removed, What’s Possible? Architecture and urban planning students envision what’s possible, including the potential for significant annual tax revenue – new development op

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is hosting a public open house on May 29th to update the community on the I-794 Lake Interchange Study. This is your chance to engage directly with WisDOT staff, review the defined alternatives—including Freeway Removal—and learn more about the upcoming Environmental Impact Statement process. Meeting Details: Milwaukee Marriott Downtown 625 North Milwaukee Street Milwaukee, WI 53202 Thursday, May 29, 2025 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm

“If 794 comes down, what’s possible?” Mastodon master plan for Interstate 794 replacement. That was the challenge posed to 14 UW-Milwaukee students in a UW-Milwaukee School of Architecture and Urban Planning seminar by professors Carolyn Esswein and Larry Witzling . Read the whole story by Jeramy Jannene on Urban Milwaukee.

Throughout this Spring semester, Carolyn Esswein's University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee seminar class has been envisioning what could happen if the elevated segment of I-794 downtown were removed. Architecture and urban planning students explore the long-term potential for development opportunities, public spaces, transit upgrades, and strong connections between Downtown and the Historic Third Ward. Over 30 years, what could the area become? Come see the concepts and the number

Urban planner Larry Witzling, professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, released a study in collaborate with Rethink 794 estimating that removal of the of I-794 through Downtown has the potential over 30 years to generate $475 million in property taxes, $3 billion in downtown disposable income, $60 million in city sales tax and the creation of 3,000+ new housing units. Witzling estimates that the land can conservatively accommodate 3,000 new residential u

Rethink 794, in collaboration with local architectural designer John Everitt, unveils a new and innovative way to visualize the I-794 Corridor. Using any mobile device, the initiative showcases a vision that replaces I-794 with a boulevard alternative and development. Augmented Reality (AR) allows participants to experience the potential for this project to transform Downtown Milwaukee and the Historic Third Ward. Discover for yourself how a boulevard opens land for potential

Thank you to all who joined Moving Milwaukee Forward, a public discussion on the vision for Milwaukee without Interstate-794. This event took place on July 17th, 2023 at Marquette University's O'Brien Hall College of Business Administration - Center for Real Estate. Peter Park (Former City of Milwaukee Planning Director) presented the benefits of urban freeway removal, highlighting his work on taking out the Park-East Freeway Spur 20 years ago. Following the presentation, Par