MILWAUKEE — A new proposal put forth by an environmental advocacy group has people in Milwaukee talking about the future of I-794. 

What You Need To Know

  • A new proposal put forth by an environmental advocacy group has people in Milwaukee talking about the future of I-794

  • The group 1000 Friends of Wisconsin is proposing it be torn down and replaced with a boulevard through the city

  • The Rethink 794 campaign is aimed at convincing the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to redesign the area around the highway instead of paying to repair it

  • While the Rethink 794 initiative is only a proposal, it has been getting plenty of attention

Since the 1970s, a series of overpasses have crisscrossed through the city, dividing the Historic Third Ward from downtown Milwaukee.

Now, the group 1000 Friends of Wisconsin is proposing it be torn down and replaced with a boulevard through the city. While the Rethink 794 initiative is only a proposal, it has been getting plenty of attention.

Gregg May serves as the transportation policy director for 1000 Friends of Wisconsin.

May said the idea is piquing the interest of the public not only because it would mean more green space for the area, but also because opening up land could lead to increased building and revenue. 

“There is 32 acres of public land under 794, if we could develop it, it could be a giant game changer for this area,” said May. “It could reconnect these neighborhoods and our analysis shows it could bring about $1.5 billion worth of development to this area.” 

The Rethink 794 campaign is aimed at convincing the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to redesign the area around the highway instead of paying to repair it. 

While the thought of redeveloping the area has been popular, others who use the highway to get to work have concerns.

Brenna Woiak works at the vegan restaurant in the Milwaukee Public Market. Woiak lives in south suburban St. Francis and uses I-794 daily. 

Woiak said she worries about what would happen if she needed to exit the highway to enter onto a boulevard on her drive into work. 

“Adding more steps, having the deal with the downtown streets, where it is multiple lanes, parking, everything, it would make my 10 or 15 minute commute probably like 30,” Woiak said.

Now that the Rethink 794 proposal has been released, May said the next step is meeting with the Milwaukee Common Council to get them on board with the idea. 

To learn more about the Rethink 794 proposal, and to see artist renderings of what a redesigned highway area could look like, go to https://www.rethink794.com/.