Purpose and Need

The purpose of the project is to address deteriorating infrastructure in a manner that improves safety and operations on I-794 while also striving to enhance community connectivity and compatibility with local plans and development. The study is driven by a number of project needs detailed below.
Project needs listing: bridge conditions; roadway design and geometric features; safety conditions; traffic operations; system linkages; bicycle and pedestrian accommodations; and land use and community compatibility.
A map highlighting the 28 original bridge units within the I-794 freeway corridor that are approaching the end of their useful life.

Bridge Conditions

There are 28 original bridge units in the study corridor, constructed in the 1970s, that are approaching the end of their useful life.

A collage of photos showing examples of substandard curves, shoulder widths, vertical bridge clearance, ramp configurations, and weave length.

Roadway Design and Geometric Features

Several areas have been identified on the existing facility where roadway design standards are not met, contributing to safety concerns along the corridor.

A map of I-794 freeway corridor that shows areas of crash concentration and single-point bicycle, pedestrian and fatal crashes between 2016 and 2020.

Safety Conditions

The crash rate on the I-794 mainline from the Marquette Interchange to the Hoan Bridge exceeds the statewide average crash rate for similar roadways during the five-year analysis period of 2016 to 2020.

A map showing the Annual Average Daily Traffic volumes on I-794 Lake Interchange, its ramps and local street network in 2022.

Traffic Operations

The I-794 Lake Interchange carried 73,900 vehicles daily east of the Milwaukee River and 42,500 vehicles daily at the Hoan Bridge in 2022. Approximately 26,600 vehicles traveled through the interchange daily, using the I-794 mainline to connect to the regional freeway system.

An aerial view of I-794 south of the Hoan Bridge, looking north toward downtown Milwaukee, with a large cargo ship docked at a Port Milwaukee Terminal.

System Linkages

I-794 connects Milwaukee’s freeway system to downtown Milwaukee, the Historic Third Ward, Milwaukee’s Lakefront, Port Milwaukee and communities along the north shore and south shore. Photo credit: Port Milwaukee

A photo of the five-legged intersection at Clybourn Street and Van Buren Street.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodations

Bicycle and pedestrian travel is an important travel mode within the study corridor. There is a lack of continuous non-motorist infrastructure on the surface street network and multiple five-leg intersections which create potentially unsafe conflict points between pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists.

A night scene of the colored aesthetic lights and painted murals on Broadway underneath the I-794 mainline as part of the Brighten the Passage initiative.

Land Use and Community Compatibility

There is an opportunity to increase community connectivity and enhance activation within Milwaukee’s downtown and Historic Third Ward neighborhoods, and improve the compatibility of transportation infrastructure with local plans and development for the Lake Interchange corridor.

Study and Project Phases

WisDOT and FHWA anticipate publishing a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) in late 2026. The Draft EIS will document the range of alternatives considered, identify potential impacts resulting from the alternatives and demonstrate compliance with applicable environmental laws. The Draft EIS will also identify WisDOT’s preferred alternative. WisDOT remains committed to ongoing engagement with the public, stakeholders and government agencies throughout the environmental review process. Following the publication of the Draft EIS, WisDOT will facilitate a 45-day public and agency comment period and hold a public hearing to obtain additional input on the analyses and decisions presented in the Draft EIS.

Process Schedule

Public Involvement, Stakeholder Outreach and Local government coordination will occur throughout the study.
2022
2025
2027
2030
We are here
Purpose
and Need
Evaluate existing conditions and develop purpose and need.
Concept Development
Develop and evaluate initial design concepts.
Alternatives Definition
Define the various elements of each alternative and summarize the preliminary analysis conducted for each alternative under evaluation in the Study.
Environmental Review (NEPA)
Complete an environmental impact statement (EIS) that evaluates alternatives and selects an alternative for implementation in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Final Design and Construction
Pending approval and funding availability.
The schedule is subject to change.

Alternative Groups

All alternative groups are being evaluated in the environmental impact statement to arrive at a selected alternative. Explore each alternative in detail.

No
Build

Elevated freeway remains and the 28 deficient bridges would continue to deteriorate.
Only routine maintenance and repairs would be completed.
At some point, maintenance repairs are no longer cost effective, and the deteriorating structural conditions could result in restrictions on vehicle weights or the closure of I-794 due to poor bridge conditions.

Replace
In Kind

Reconstruct the 28 deficient bridges, in similar alignment to the existing elevated freeway.
Maintain all existing access points.
Outdated design features would be partially addressed (shoulder widths, stopping sight distances and superelevation).
Limited improvements to surface streets and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations.
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Replace In Kind

Freeway
Removal

Replace elevated freeway with at-grade surface street network.
Improve surface street connectivity.
Provide complete street accommodations.
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Freeway Removal

Freeway
Improvement

Reconstruct elevated freeway without capacity expansion.
Improve design features to meet current standards and improve safety.
Consolidate freeway access ramps.
Improve surface street connectivity.
Provide complete street accommodations.
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Right-Hand Ramps
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Left-hand ramps

Mobility

The Lake Interchange serves as a major link to the regional freeway system as part of I-794 and a key freight transportation route for Port Milwaukee. With eight service ramps connecting I-794 Lake Interchange to the surface street network, it provides direct access to and from downtown Milwaukee, Historic Third Ward and Lakefront for some of the state’s largest employers, destinations, attractions, and densely populated neighborhoods.
A map showing the Annual Average Daily Traffic volumes on I-794 Lake Interchange, its ramps and local street network in 2022.
The I-794 Lake Interchange carried 73,900 vehicles daily east of the Milwaukee River and 42,500 vehicles daily at the Hoan Bridge in 2022. Approximately 26,600 vehicles traveled through the interchange daily, using the I-794 mainline to connect to the regional freeway system.
A map surrounding the I-794 Lake Interchange study area that shows the existing multimodal transportation system including on-street bike lanes, shared-use paths, a pedestrian walkway, areas with no sidewalk, Milwaukee Riverwalk, MCTS bus routes, MCTS CONNECT 1 route and stations, The Hop Streetcar Route and stations, bikeshare stations, and movable bridges.
The Lake Interchange interfaces with a multimodal transportation system comprised of The Hop Streetcar, MCTS CONNECT 1 Bus Rapid Transit, and high volumes of pedestrian and bicycle traffic.
A chart showing the average weekday hourly volume of vehicles on I-794 at the Milwaukee River to show pre and post pandemic levels using data from 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Traffic volumes on I-794 Lake Interchange from 2018 to 2022 were reviewed to understand travel pattern changes throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. With a steady increase since 2020, the average weekday hourly volume on I-794 at the Milwaukee River is at or near pre-pandemic (2018) traffic volumes.

View August 2023 Traffic, Travel and Safety Patterns Fact Sheet

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