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 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: Aging infrastructure, originally built in 1974-1975, community connectivity, system linkages, roadway deficiencies, bicycle and pedestrian safety, and traffic safety.
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 and Geometric Deficiencies

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 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 local street network and multiple five-legged intersections which create potentially unsafe conflict points between pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists.

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

Traffic Operations

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.

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.

Process Schedule

Following preliminary analyses and public feedback gathered to date, WisDOT plans to issue a Notice of Intent (NOI) in 2025 to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS will detail the project's purpose and need, consider a range of reasonable alternatives and analyze potential environmental impacts in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

WisDOT will continue to engage with the public and stakeholders and coordinate with government agencies. Comments and feedback will be incorporated into the EIS to ensure transparency and thorough consideration of environmental impacts. Through the EIS process, an alternative will be selected for implementation. There will be plenty of opportunities to learn more and share your feedback before any final decisions are made.

Process Schedule

Public Involvement, Stakeholder Outreach and Local government coordination will occur throughout the study.
2022
2025
2027
We are here
Purpose
and Need
Evaluate existing conditions and develop purpose and need.
Concept Development
Develop and evaluate initial design concepts.
Alternatives Definition
Identify and define alternatives to be evaluated in the Environmental Review phase.
Environmental Review
Complete an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that evaluates all alternatives and selects an alternative for implementation as part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Final Design and Construction
Pending approval and funding availability.
The schedule is subject to change.

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.
A map showing the Annual Average Daily Traffic volumes on I-794 Lake Interchange, its ramps and local street network in 2022.
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.
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 the TRAFFIC, TRAVEL & SAFETY PATTERNS FACT SHEET

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CONTACTS

DAVE PITTMAN, P.E.‍
Project Manager
(262) 548-6439
David.Pittman@dot.wi.gov
TREVOR FANNON
‍Communications Manager
(262) 521-5373
Trevor.Fannon@dot.wi.gov

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Wisconsin Department of Transportation794 Lake Interchange