Milwaukee Common Council backs I-794 “highway-to-boulevard,” Mayor Johnson wants upgrades

Milwaukee Common Council members are backing a “highway-to-boulevard” vision for the I-794 Lake Interchange area, arguing the elevated freeway should be replaced with an at-grade street network.

The endorsement lands as the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) continues evaluating multiple options through its I-794 Lake Interchange Study, which is still in an alternatives and public-involvement phase.

What the July 13 statement backs

In a joint statement dated July 13, 2026, Aldermen Alex Brower and Robert J. Bauman and Alderwoman Sharlen P. Moore said WisDOT should remove the I-794 stretch between the Marquette and Lake interchanges rather than rebuilding the elevated freeway.

The council members argue removal would create “16 acres of developable land” that they say could support additional housing, attract new residents, and help grow Milwaukee’s tax base, along with supporting local businesses.

They also frame freeway removal as a way to eliminate what they describe as a physical barrier, with the goal of improving connectivity for parts of the city—including downtown, the Historic Third Ward, and the lakefront.

Mayor Johnson says WisDOT should improve the existing freeway

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson disagrees. Spectrum News 1 reported on July 9, 2026 that the mayor said he will not recommend tearing down I-794 in downtown Milwaukee—instead, he plans to recommend improvements to the existing structure.

Spectrum’s reporting says Johnson pointed to results of several traffic studies, arguing a teardown could create significant traffic issues, especially during the busy summer season and festival activity. He also cited concerns about gridlock tied to lift bridges and said truck routing could be especially challenging if the option shifts to a boulevard-style, street-level design.

Where WisDOT stands: multiple alternatives are still on the table

WisDOT’s I-794 Lake Interchange Study is focused on aging infrastructure along the Lake Interchange portion of I-794, with the study corridor generally extending from the Marquette Interchange to the Hoan Bridge area because of how the freeway and ramps function together. WisDOT says the study is not considering changes to the main span of the Hoan Bridge or the core design of the Marquette Interchange.

In the environmental impact statement process, WisDOT says it is evaluating four alternative groups:

• No build: the elevated freeway remains; 28 deficient bridges would continue to deteriorate with only routine maintenance and repairs.
• Replace in kind: reconstruct the 28 deficient bridges in a similar alignment, with limited improvements to surface streets and pedestrian/bicycle accommodations.
• Freeway removal: replace the elevated freeway with an at-grade surface street network, improve surface-street connectivity, and provide complete street accommodations.
• Freeway improvement: reconstruct the elevated freeway without capacity expansion, improve design features for current standards and safety, and improve surface-street connectivity and complete street accommodations.

WisDOT also says it held spring 2026 open house meetings where attendees reviewed the Replace in Kind, Freeway Removal, and Freeway Improvement alternatives—along with updated analysis that includes safety, traffic sensitivity, freight, land use market considerations, preliminary resource impacts, and probable costs by alternative.

What residents should watch next

For commuters, the near-term question is whether WisDOT’s next steps move more strongly toward an at-grade “highway-to-boulevard” approach—or toward keeping an elevated structure with upgrades.

For residents and potential relocators, the key watchpoint is how WisDOT’s land-use and connectivity analysis compares across alternatives—especially the Freeway Removal option that the council members say could unlock redevelopment potential.

As WisDOT continues public involvement, readers can compare the options using WisDOT’s own evaluation categories (safety, traffic operations, freight impacts, and land use opportunity) to understand how planners weigh tradeoffs.

Sources

• Milwaukee Common Council joint statement (July 13, 2026)
• WisDOT I-794 Lake Interchange Study (official study site)
• Spectrum News 1 (July 9, 2026) — mayor’s counter-position