Thursday 23 May 2013

Blogs

Home » Blogs

${gotBlog.title}

County Supervisor Jursik envisions a bike lane attachment for Hoan Bridge

Posted by Tom Held of the Journal Sentinel on Aug. 3, 2011

Hoan Bridge

"Why not suspend a bridge cantilevered off the side of the arch of the Hoan?"

In a recent guest column, Milwaukee County Supervisor Patricia Jursik proposes that fresh and serious idea for providing a bike and pedestrian lane on the Daniel Hoan Memorial Bridge.

This piece in the Bay View Compass details the vision from Jursik, a long-time advocate for acommodating cyclists and walkers on the bridge that connects Downtown Milwaukee to her constituents in the suburbs to the south:

"A beautifully constructed and artistically pleasing bike ramp or spiral form will convey both pedestrians and bicyclists up to the cantilevered bridge that hangs from the arch, roughly parallel to Interstate 794. Beautiful vistas of the lake and Milwaukee skyline award the ascent with a breathtaking view of the Calatrava, Discovery World, and the Lakeshore State Park island. Cyclists and pedestrians would then pass through a fully encased trail, quite safe, and arrive on the other side of the cantilevered span at a second ramp/spiral bikecase that leads them back down to ground level on the north side of the Milwaukee River. Here, a freshly paved path skirts behind the Marcus Amphitheater and connects to the current Lakeshore State Park trail."

Jursik writes that engineers found the bridge concept possible to execute.

While Jursik argues that the Hoan must continue to provide three lanes for motor vehicles, other advocates for a bike lane on the bridge disagree.

Dave Schlabowske, a communications director for the Bicycle Federation of  Wisconsin, makes the case that traffic flows sufficiently, even with one lane closed in each direction during ongoing repairs.

9 Comments for "County Supervisor Jursik envisions a bike lane attachment for Hoan Bridge"

  1. Keep the three lanes on the Hoan, extend 794 to Ryan Road and build an off-street bike path so bikers can avoid biking on 1st Street. I personally don't see the infatuation with biking on the Hoan but don't hold it against people that do.

    JTBA Aug 03, 2011 4:40 PM

  2. Really were they ever on it during rush hour at 5pm?? Stop and go because of the Oklahoma stop-lights when you're still at the curve north of the bridge??? Thats moving 'sufficently'???

    SMCMAC32 Aug 03, 2011 5:30 PM

  3. With ideas like this Milwaukee better be careful or it might become half as
    pedestrian friendly as Minneapolis.

    Giuseppe Aug 03, 2011 7:02 PM

  4. SMCMAC32 - "Really were they ever on it during rush hour at 5pm?? Stop and go because of the Oklahoma stop-lights when you're still at the curve north of the bridge??? Thats moving 'sufficently'??? "

    You have just made the case that three lanes for cars are not needed. The traffic light at Oklahoma is the relevant capacity constraint, not whether there are two vs. three lanes at the Hoan.

    sewisn Aug 03, 2011 8:05 PM

  5. So these are Ideas one of the 18 country supervisors is coming up with when the county is 21 million in the hole? Why not free air ballon rides also!

    stickdude Aug 03, 2011 9:38 PM

  6. How about a marsupial bridge slung form the underside like the one that crosses under the Holton st. bridge? It would be shaded and away from the car traffic noise and pollution. Sure it would be costly but it is a better alternative to replacing a car lane with runners and bikers. Some WI DOT alternative transportation funds could be put to good use.

    mikeinmke Aug 04, 2011 10:54 AM

Post a Comment

Limit of 2000 characters,  characters remaining

Preview

Cancel

Discussion guidelines | Privacy policy | Terms of use

Please login to post a comment.

Page Tools

Latest Posts

Archives