Hundreds pack the first public open house on I-794 Lake Interchange study

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The long-anticipated process of having the public weigh in on the future of I-794 is underway.

Tuesday evening hundreds of people packed into WisDOT's first public open house.

There are mainly two camps: keep the I-794 interchange or tear it down and rebuild city streets. Either option would take years to complete.

Steve Matson lives in Milwaukee. He told us at the open house, "Everybody's been incredible. Super informative and helpful. I think it's a whole new perspective on where our dollars go as taxpayers."

The original I-794 interchange was built nearly 50 years ago. WisDOT says it's safe right now, but changes will be needed soon. They fall into three categories: repair the current freeway as-is, rebuild and improve the freeway, or tear it down altogether.

David Pittman, the Project Manager with WisDOT's Southeast Region, said, "There's a lot of different opinions out there, a lot of competing interests."

WisDOT will meet with public several times over the next year to solicit input.

Anita Franklin of Milwaukee said, "I came to learn, so it's showing me all the different ideas they have come up with."

At Tuesday's open house, subject matter experts broke down nine preliminary plans.

Jacob Borkhus of Wauwatosa said, "I think there's some benefit to a lot of the different models they have here."

And that's exactly what WisDOT wants to hear. Pittman said, "We want to hear what people like about these alternatives and what they don't like."

Whichever plan is ultimately chosen will likely take elements from multiple proposals.

Pittman said, "What we don't want is to have people say, 'I really like concept 2.' What we really want to hear is, 'I like how this concept does this.'"

WisDOT wants people to leave positive or negative comments on sticky notes at the open houses, and people can fill out an extensive comment form in person or online.

Borkhus said, "One of the things I would have loved to see was maybe a price point on each different option."

Final design could start next year. Construction may not begin until 2026. But right now only the study phase is funded, not the final design or construction.

Some people said it's still great to finally see some movement on improving 794. Matson said, "I think you hear a lot of commentary about it, but to actually see that supported with facts is really cool."

Another open house will be held Wednesday from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. at St. Thomas More High School in Milwaukee.

More information about the I-794 Lake Interchange study can be found here.

Feedback can be submitted online here.