Razing I-794 has its appeal. But Third Ward business operators worry about traffic impact

Jim Plaisted understands the appeal of replacing part of downtown Milwaukee's Interstate 794 with a surface street.

But he also has to "deal with the reality" faced by his constituents: Historic Third Ward business operators who are worried about increased neighborhood traffic.

Those concerns should be eased by the likelihood that razing part of I-794 between the Hoan Bridge and just west of the Milwaukee River will more evenly disperse traffic throughout downtown, says Taylor Korslin, a freeway removal advocate.

Plaisted, Historic Third Ward Association executive director, and Korslin, an architect who's a representative of Rethink I-794, spoke at a Monday meeting of the Greater Milwaukee Committee. More than 100 members of the civic group were in the audience.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation in 2023 disclosed seven conceptual plans to repair I-794 and two plans to remove it.

Along with a freeway removal option, the agency by fall plans to narrow those plans to one option to rebuild freeway bridges within I-794's current alignment and keep all existing freeway access ramps, and another option to rebuild bridges with a tightened alignment that consolidates ramps.

After gathering additional public input, WisDOT plans to choose a preferred alternative by the end of 2024.

Final design work is to occur in 2025 and 2026, with construction work starting in 2027 or 2028 if the $300 million project obtains federal and state funding.

Plaisted told the Greater Milwaukee Committee group that the Third Ward is "on fire" with development that includes the new 333 Water apartment tower, 333 N. Water St., and plans for Foxtown Landing, a taproom, distillery and restaurant at 412-420 N. Plankinton Ave.

He said Third Ward businesses have learned to handle I-794's barrier between the neighborhood and downtown through such efforts as Brighten the Passage, which created murals and new lighting beneath the freeway; Riverwalk Commons, which added pickleball courts and other public space underneath the freeway along North Water Street, and the off-leash dog park that will be built just north of Foxtown Landing.

"We've figured out how to deal with this," Plaisted said. "We're very concerned about messing that up."

Korslin cited WisDOT estimates that just one-third of the I-794 traffic would continue to use the two-way, four-lane boulevard version of Clybourn Street that would be upgraded if the freeway is razed.

Others cars would be dispersed to such streets as St. Paul Avenue, Michigan Street and Wisconsin Avenue, he said.

Plaisted also raised concerns about increased traffic on Water Street. Third Ward business operators hope to see it narrowed from four lanes to two lanes, with wider sidewalks, to create an environment more friendly to people walking and biking.

One possible remedy, Korslin said, would be to make Plankinton Avenue a two-way street to provide an alternative to Water Street.

Along with removing a barrier between downtown, the Third Ward and the lakefront, I-794's removal would free up 15 acres for development − creating more economic vitality and a more attractive downtown, Korslin said.

And that leads to an issue that's bigger than solving a transportation problem, he said.

"What do we want to become as a city?" Korslin asked.

Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, X and Facebook.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee business group raises concerns about possible I-794 removal