About the Study

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is conducting a study on the I-794 Lake Interchange corridor, in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration, and in close coordination with the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County. WisDOT’s collaborative and comprehensive process includes assessing the needs and priorities, gathering and analyzing data, evaluating a range of alternatives, and engaging with the public to determine the best transportation solution on this important corridor.

Draft Purpose and Need

The purpose of the project is to address deteriorating infrastructure in a manner that improves safety and operations on I-794, generally from the Milwaukee River to the Hoan Bridge, 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.

Aging infrastructure

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

Community Connectivity

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.

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

Roadway Deficiencies

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

Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety

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

traffic Safety

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.

Study Schedule and Process

Public involvement and outreach is taking place throughout the study, offering several opportunities for the public engage with WisDOT on the review of alternatives for the corridor. The environmental review process is anticipated to be complete in 2025 and will select a preferred alternative. Final design and construction will follow the study pending the approval of the environmental document and funding availability.

Study Schedule

2022

2025

2027*

We are here

Concept Development

Alternative Analysis

Environmental Review

Final Design*

Construction*

Schedule subject to change.

*Pending approvals and funding availability.

Study Process

START
2022

COMPLETION

Study Needs and Priorities

Evaluate existing conditions and prepare purpose and need.

stakeholder
engagement

Develop
design concepts

concept development

Evaluate design concepts.

public
Meeting #1

Identify
alternatives

alternative Analysis

Advance alternative analysis based on purpose and need, and consider traffic operations, multimodal connectivity, costs, impacts, and constructability.

public Meeting
#2 and #3

Identify recommended alternative(s)

Environmental Review

Complete an environmental document that identifies a preferred alternative as part of NEPA process.

public
hearing

Select preferred
alternative

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 local 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.

Lake Interchange carries 73,900 vehicles daily east of the Milwaukee River and 42,500 vehicles daily at the Hoan Bridge. Approximately 26,600 vehicles travel through the interchange on a daily basis, using the I-794 mainline to connect to the regional freeway system.

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.

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 the TRAFFIC, TRAVEL & SAFETY PATTERNS FACT SHEET

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