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DOT reconsiders biking / walking lane on the Hoan Bridge

Posted by Tom Held of the Journal Sentinel on July 14, 2011

Hoan Bridge

The long-standing "no" has softened to a "maybe" for the addition of a bike and walking lane on the Daniel Hoan Memorial Bridge, according to a report by Journal Sentinel reporter Tom Daykin.

Reporting from a meeting of the Long-Range Lakefront Planning Committee, Daykin writes that a regional director for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced plans to study the potential of accommodating nonmotorized traffic on the 2.5-mile span over the Port of Milwaukee.

Cycling advocates have long sought a bike lane on span, with little success. In 2002, the DOT rejected a proposal to turn one of the three northbound traffic lanes and create a two-way path for bikers and walkers. Instead, the DOT authorized a Bay View to Downtown bikeway built on surface streets.

Gov. Scott Walker has maintained a firm stance against turning a portion of the Hoan over to the self-propelled types, but he did back closing the Hoan for the Miller Lite Ride for the Performing Arts.

His spokesman said late Thursday morning that Walker has not changed his mind. He still opposes the installation of a bike and pedestrian lane on the bridge.

Thousands of cyclists successfully negotiated the 3% grade up and over the bridge, which tops out 120 feet over the harbor entrance.

On Sunday, more than 6,000 participants in the Summerfest Rock 'n Sole also traveled over the bridge, with mixed results.

Kevin Hardman, executive director of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, called the shift in the DOT's position "great news."

A bike path on the Hoan would connect the lakefront segment of the Milwaukee County Oak Leaf Trail, from Veteran's Park to South Shore Park, he said. A path over the Hoan also would serve cyclists who travel from the west on the Hank Aaron State Trail.

Riding over the bridge would be a tourist draw, similar to the paths on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, Hardman said.

11 Comments for "DOT reconsiders biking / walking lane on the Hoan Bridge"

  1. Why is this even being considered? Bike lanes do not belong on Interstate
    Highways. Do you think its a good idea to have a bike lane on I-894?

    NickSchweitzer Jul 14, 2011 11:16 AM

  2. @NickSchweitzer Actually they do. In fact there are bike lanes, separated by concrete, on multiple freeways in the US. Further, it is actually federal law that it has to be considered during rebuilds.

    Dave Reid Jul 14, 2011 11:43 AM

  3. This would be a great addition to MKE's bicycling infastructure. It would connect downtown to bayview and make it a snap to bike between both parts of MKE. GREAT IDEA!!! I hope it goes through!!
    BTW: it's "794"

    Modra Jul 14, 2011 11:48 AM

  4. As a avid bike rider, this is a stupid idea and a waste of tax payer dollars. Let Tom Held pay for this out of his own pocket, since he is so gung ho about this! I would rather see money used to repair the existing roads with all the potholes. This would benifit both the people that use cars as well as the people who ride bikes!

    telling it like it is! Jul 14, 2011 11:58 AM

  5. I don't really see the point to doing this, but if it happens so be it. I would probably take advantage of it every once in a while. I do have to wonder how much of a tourist attraction the powers that be think it will be? I mean I really can't picture a lot of people saying 'oh hey lets go to Milwaukee for the weekend so we can ride across the bridge'

    ChrisM5801 Jul 14, 2011 1:00 PM

  6. I loved walking the Brooklyn Bridge path the summer I lived in New York. Given it's a much larger population base in NYC, but the bridge path was always busy. I'd love the opportunity to use the Hoan by self-propelled means.

    Jul 14, 2011 1:15 PM

  7. A "Marsupial Bridge" like the one beneath the Holton bridge (where Van Buren turns into Holton, right by Tracadero) would be awesome for the Daniel Hoan Memorial Bridge.

    Could you imagine how beautiful a sunrise walk or ride would be across the Hoan!

    It would'nt be the Golden Gate Bridge but it would certainly be a great asset to Milwaukee :-)

    I was looking at this when I was down at Summerfest and in my mind, I could picture a very nice "Marsupial Bridge" attached to the eastern concrete pillars that would allow a great view of a beautiful sunrise in Milwaukee!

    It would be a great asset to the 3rd Ward and to Bay View.

    JUST DO IT!

    CuriousMke Jul 14, 2011 2:06 PM

  8. I'm a taxpayer and I approve of a bike/pedestrian lane on the Hoan bridge.

    The RTS Jul 14, 2011 2:26 PM

  9. biking-walking-jumping lane ... great idea.

    holy smokes Jul 14, 2011 4:51 PM

  10. Ive seen it before. A walk/bike path on a bridge like the Hoan. It is connected to the side about 3 feet from the bridge on steel beams and is a metal flooring that has small holes in it for water, it is also completly encased in chain-link fence. Hense forth it eliminates the Jumper senerio and it also elimantes the danger of having nonmotorized traffic next to traffic moving at 60+ MPH. Or the city could do the same idea only under the bridge hanging by a sturdy support. That would be a view to watch a large ship pass underneith you while your biking to work.

    vollyfire Jul 14, 2011 5:20 PM

  11. A bike lane would dramatically reduce cycling time & stress between the South Shore and the East Side. Just like it does for car drivers. The cars don't need all six lanes there. Why not put a bike lane there.

    sewisn Jul 19, 2011 9:39 AM

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