WisDOT aims to 'Re-imagine Highway 175'; conversion project moving forward
Reimagining Highway 175
There's a public debate on what the future holds for Highway 175 in Milwaukee.
MILWAUKEE - Built in the 1960s, a stretch of Milwaukee's Highway 175 could see big changes.
Aging infrastructure, disconnected communities and safety concerns for pedestrians, that's what the project "Reimagining Wisconsin 175" aims to address.
What we know:
It focuses on the highway stretch from Milwaukee's Stadium Freeway to Lisbon Avenue in Milwaukee County. Its original purpose was to connect to a freeway system that was never built. The project looks at possibly reverting that stretch to a four-lane boulevard.
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In a presentation Wednesday, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation told Milwaukee County’s Committee on Transportation and Transit this would help reconnect neighborhoods, and create new space for parks and pedestrians.
Opponents say they're worried about congestion.
WisDOT aims to 'Re-imagine Highway 175,' public comment sought
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is trying to "Re-imagine Highway 175."
But WisDOT is moving forward with asking for funding.
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The project is estimated to cost roughly $128 million.
What they're saying:
"I think people are more aware about the negatives of having a freeway in their backyard," said Michael Barera with the Milwaukee County Historical Society. "In the 50s this is what people had in mind. So obviously decades later, a lot of them wore quite considerably and we also learned the damage to communities."
What's next:
Final alternatives will be presented in an early April for the public to share their thoughts, with a final report by the end of April.
The Source: The Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Milwaukee County Historical Society provided information.