MILWAUKEE — The future of the Interstate 794 overpass in downtown Milwaukee is one step closer to seeing a potential makeover.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation shared early concepts of I-794 reconstruction, including six ideas that would all improve the freeway and add back more land for development, and two concepts that would remove the freeway bridges completely. An additional concept would call for I-794 to be rebuilt as it currently stands.

The first concept for freeway removal (via the Wisconsin Department of Transportation)

All nine of the designs would give the city more developable land. Depending on which design is chosen, between 2.7 and 18.3 acres of potential land would be available.

One of WisDOT’s concepts would remove the I-794 bridge around St. Paul Avenue, opening up 18.3 acres of developable land all the way to Lincoln Memorial Drive. The other concept would remove the freeway around North 3rd St., which would open up 15.4 acres of land.

The second concept for freeway removal (via the Wisconsin Department of Transportation)

An environmental advocacy group, Rethink 794, has made a push to tear down the I-794 Lake Interchange, which was first announced last year. The goal was to combine downtown with the Historic Third Ward, with more buildings and public spaces.

Additionally, Milwaukee’s Department of City Development released a downtown comprehensive plan called “Connec+ing MKE: Downtown Plan 2040,” which includes the eventual removal of the I-794 Lake Interchange.

WisDOT is going to hold two public meetings later this year and a third in early 2024 to further gather input. Details for these meetings have not yet been announced. Later in 2024, WisDOT will hold a public hearing regarding the “preferred alternative” for the project.

According to the study, the final design will come to fruition between 2025-2026. Construction could take place from 2026 to 2029, depending on available funding.