Rethink 794's response to Mayor Johnson's Support for "Highway Improvement" Alternative in WisDOT's Lake Interchange Study

Today, Mayor Cavalier Johnson voiced his support for the so-called "Highway Improvement" option in WisDOT's Lake Interchange Study.

We are deeply disappointed by this short-sighted comment, which fails to embrace the once-in-a-generation opportunity for Milwaukee. Choosing to back an alternative before the full data from the ongoing Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is evaluated is a premature step. We can all agree that an elevated highway simply does not belong through our downtown.

Our vision for the future of the corridor has always been about more than managing cars. The vision is optimistic and shaped by community; we see an opportunity to reconnect downtown to the Third Ward, Menomonee Valley, and the lakefront.

The so-called "Highway Improvement" option is not an improvement for the city. It leaves freeway infrastructure in place and eliminates the potential for a vibrant new neighborhood with thousands more residents. It will cause congestion east of the river and Third Ward area. Where the removal option would add massive economic, social, and environmental benefits the "highway improvement" option fails.

At a time when Milwaukee is working to address critical housing needs, this corridor represents a rare opportunity to create thousands of new housing units in desirable neighborhoods, attract new residents, grow the tax base, support businesses, and strengthen connections between communities.

We maintain that Milwaukee needs solutions that match the scale of the challenges we face. Rebuilding an elevated freeway, in any capacity, may be the easier choice in the short term. It does not create the same long-term benefits as reimagining this land for reconnection, housing options, and economic development.

Let's not forget, that building a freeway through the middle of downtown Milwaukee was a choice made to disrupt the fabric of communities that had thrived for generations. In every highway-to-boulevard debate, you hear the scares about "traffic congestion" and "gridlock". We heard the same concerns when the Park East freeway came down. Gridlock does not materialize. Milwaukee's own history sets a clear precedent that people will adapt.

It's incredibly disappointing to see leadership hesitate when WisDOT's own analysis shows that removal is entirely viable and traffic would flow efficiently. If the state's data demonstrates a boulevard can work, we should be taking advantage of this opportunity to invest in transit, housing, and better land-uses, rather than rebuilding an outdated barrier.

All said, WisDOT's Environmental Impact Assessment process is still ongoing, and the conversation is NOT over. Rethink 794 remains committed to advocating for a bright future that prioritizes housing, economic opportunity, jobs, safety, connectivity, to better serve all Milwaukee residents.