Cities face chronic struggles with the planning, implementation, and renovation of urban freeways.  Most planners have seen the way some cities replace freeways amidst controversy — with new streets, blocks, parks, buildings, and urban places.   This set of three essays recognizes the political conflicts but focuses more on how urban planners have evolved their answers to such issues over 50 years in one city – Milwaukee. 

To begin an analysis of urban freeways and their impact on the city, we first have to understand how freeways have impacted urban areas by becoming embedded barriers which, in turn, have negative consequences. Some embedded urban barriers fit the essential form of the city like rivers, lakes, and major topographic changes.  …  When these barriers are removed new growth occurs — like the Park East area in Milwaukee.

It all begins with an idea.

As a Boomer, I was born into the wonder of freeways.  As an architect, I still view freeways as the awesome Roman aqueducts of our time.  But as a Milwaukee resident since 1972, I have outgrown my Boomer freeway crush. it’s time for my generation to respond to changing values for the next generations and plan our city for their future. This matters more than ever, as we design the future of I-794. …