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DOT ready to listen on Hoan Bridge bike, pedestrian options

Posted by Tom Held of the Journal Sentinel on Aug. 22, 2011

cycling

Engineers planning the reconstruction of the Daniel Hoan Memorial Bridge will listen to ideas for the addition of a bike and pedestrian lane during a town hall meeting in Bay View on Tuesday night.

Nearly a decade after rejecting a bike-lane proposal, the planners will take another look at how access for nonmotorized traffic could be accommodated during the reconstruction set to begin in 2013. The DOT will make its decision - yes or no on the nonmotorized addition to the Hoan - by late fall, according to Brian Roper, design supervisor for the I-794/Hoan Bridge project.

The decision on the bike lane would be folded into the engineering work for the larger rehabilitation. Engineering for that project is set to be done in spring 2012.

Roper said the creation of a bike and pedestrian path, either on the current bridge or an addition, would fit into the current estimate of $275 million to $350 million for the upcoming reconstruction.

The options being studied include closing one or more traffic lanes to accommodate nonmotorized vehicles, widening the bridge in some fashion to add the bike/pedestrian path or suspending a secondary bridge under the current structure.

A proposal to close a traffic lane was rejected in 2002, in part to maintain traffic flow during the reconstruction of the Marquette Interchange. That project is finished and the Hoan rehabilitation planning provides another opportunity to consider the options, Roper said.

Local legislators organized the meeting, which will be held in the Beulah Brinton Community Center, 2555 S. Bay St. The session will start at 5 p.m. and finish at 7.

Cycling advocates have been rallying to turn out a big crowd for the meeting. In this piece, Dave Schlabowske calls it "a watershed moment for bicycling in Wisconsin."

69 Comments for "DOT ready to listen on Hoan Bridge bike, pedestrian options"

  1. By the sound of it, the main traffic constriction of the entire Hoan is the
    southbound traffic lights at or near Oklahoma, with much less issue in the
    northbound direction. The times I have used it, northbound is flowing very
    nicely, and it feels like there is a lot of excess roadway.
    Use the rightmost northbound lane area for a large bike/pedestrian lane.
    This would have to be the cheapest and most efficient use of the
    available roadway and if it could be constructed so that visibility to and
    from the bike lane is open and free, it could be a great looking touch to a
    prominent Milwaukee Skyline feature.

    mikeyd Aug 22, 2011 2:07 PM

  2. no streetcar access?

    agrestic Aug 22, 2011 2:13 PM

  3. This link would essentially create a pedestrian/bike path from Grant Park and
    the far south side and that wonderful lake front path to the south, to the
    city, Summerfest grounds, and Lincoln Memorial parkway to the north. We
    would now have a direct and safe pathway for such a Long stretch it would
    be Amazing!

    mikeyd Aug 22, 2011 2:14 PM

  4. "..the main traffic constriction of the entire Hoan is the
    southbound traffic lights at or near Oklahoma.."

    Oklahoma Ave is nowhere near the Hoan Bridge. It's actually about 2 miles south of the bridges southern end. Are you referring to the Lake Pkwy in general?

    Cheesehead Aug 22, 2011 2:21 PM

  5. Two thumbs up for the bike lane.

    Updh2 Aug 22, 2011 2:24 PM

  6. cheesehead,

    I am pretty Oklahoma is the first street light south of the bridge, have you
    driven this area? 794 is essentially an overpass and is bridged over the
    other cross traffic to this point. I have heard quite a few other people
    mention that as the high traffic zone, while the bridge itself is almost always
    moving, with exception of festival and construction traffic.

    mikeyd Aug 22, 2011 2:30 PM

  7. agresticno: streetcar access?

    ====================================================

    I guess some people can't ever be serious. Go play with your crayons.

    Gator055 Aug 22, 2011 2:30 PM

  8. Automobiles, trucks and buses traveling at highway speeds and bicycles DO NOT MIX! Surface streets will get bicyclists to their destination just as fast and safer. Why does ANYBODY want to climb the up hill grade of the Hoan Bridge? Maybe to fly down the other side at 60MPH and possibly crash when he or she looses control.

    Gator055 Aug 22, 2011 2:32 PM

  9. Odon143031. thank God there are people like you that work so hard to hold back the city from doing anything innovative. Or, anything that doesn't benefit you directly. Hmmm... I wonder why you don't see any bicyclists between Bay View and downtown? Maybe because it is too dangerous, usually involves blowing out a tire in a pot hole or playing chicken against all of the buses that cross into the bike lane.

    livinginreality Aug 22, 2011 2:35 PM

  10. Wow. The state is thinking about doing something for bicyclists? Walker's
    poll numbers must really be ugly.

    goalie Aug 22, 2011 2:42 PM

  11. Honestly, this is a joke right? I'm an avid cyclist and ride over 5000 per year. No way in god's earth do I see a reason to exempt a lane on a freeway for bicycles. It's a wasted of money, period. Their are so many other ways to cross the river. I'd even rather see them spend some money and build a bike bridge over the river.....if possible. But I honestly even see that as a waste of money!!!

    Sparky101 Aug 22, 2011 2:43 PM

  12. For the most part, I am against redoing many of the streets just for bike lanes. However, this is different. When the engineers have a blank slate to work with, let them get innovative and find a solution. There seems to be a demand for it so answer it. The cost would be minimal as they need to draw up plans to redesign anyways. Figuring in a bike lane shouldn't be difficult (I am not an engineer but still cannot figure out how adding a lane on this project would cost money).

    Yet, if you want this lane, you need to be treated equally with the cars. Make people pay a wheel tax just like the cars going over this bridge. Fair is fair. You want the lane, pay up for it.

    As for those who would say people are paying a wheel tax on their cars so they would be exempt, I say it doesn't matter. I own two vehicles and am the only one that drives them. I am being charged twice. Same thing should happen to the bicyclists.

    STB1 Aug 22, 2011 2:43 PM

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