In an effort to improve connectivity on Milwaukee's west side, much of a roughly 1.5-mile stretch of the Stadium Freeway could be converted into a four-lane boulevard or a tunnel under new redesign plans.
The freeway could be decommissioned between Wisconsin and Lisbon avenues under Wisconsin Department of Transportation proposals unveiled Tuesday, though work would be contingent on state funding approval.
Alternatives include converting the freeway into a tunnel to carry traffic through the northern part of the former freeway corridor. Others suggest converting the freeway, which is currently six lanes, into a four-lane, at-grade street with traffic lights at its northern exits.
The alternatives offer different options as to where the freeway should terminate in the south and how many intersections with cross streets it should have there.
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Replacing the freeway would provide opportunities to develop new housing or other new development. The conceptual plans show more than 30 acres being made available for public space or development.
WisDOT will continue to gather public input on the concepts throughout the year as it narrows down its alternatives, WisDOT documents show. It will hold a second public open house this winter before finalizing the study next spring.
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Planning to redesign the Stadium Freeway comes as WisDOT considers
plans to replace or remove a section of I-794 in downtown Milwaukee. WisDOT is planning to come up with a short list of alternatives for that section of freeway this fall and make a final selection this winter or coming spring.
WisDOT is also planning to start work in 2025 on
a $1.74 billion expansion of I-94 on the west side of Milwaukee. Those plans include a redesign of the stadium interchange, where Highway 175 and I-94 intersect.
