April 7, 2026

By Lane Kimble

A pair of upcoming meetings this spring should give us a better sense of whether WisDOT aims to improve, repair in-place, or remove the I-794 corridor in downtown Milwaukee.

The Department is planning public involvement meetings on Thursday, April 30 at the Milwaukee Marriott Downtown and Tuesday, May 5 at St. Francis High School.

Both meetings run from 4:30-7:30 p.m.

Click HERE to view the meeting invite.

WisDOT has spent several years studying the divergent alternatives to fix the aging section of freeway that connects downtown Milwaukee with its southern and western suburbs.

About 74,000 vehicles use a portion of I-794 every day and more than 42,000 use the Hoan Bridge.

There are 28 original bridge structures built in the 1970s along I-794 that are nearing the end of their useful life. There have also been significant advances in construction design and engineering since then, while pavement has deteriorated badly.

WisDOT is considering three main options: repair the corridor as it stands today, reconstruct the entire area, or remove the freeway section all together and replace with street-level options.

A final decision will likely come in 2027 after WisDOT completes its study and a federal Environmental Impact Statement. Final design and construction is tentatively scheduled for 2030.