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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. The Hoan is an easy ride for anyone that's had the chance to do it. Those
    that want to argue that it's somehow not should have seen the children
    and the elderly riders making the climb with ease during the UPAF event
    when thousands of bikers made the trek.

    It's not uncommon to find similar bridges with bike lanes around the
    country. Frankly this is a no brainer for Milwaukee --- better connectivity
    for a drop in the bucket cost-wise. It will also be a spectacular ride for
    tourists and the like.

    PANTHERfan Aug 22, 2011 2:48 PM

  2. are you crazy?? have you ever driven a car across the hoan bridge on a windy day? it would be raining bicyclists at summerfest. besides, who the heck wants to ride a bike uphill for 2 miles? and let's not forget... it's a freakin freeway. no bikes allowed on freeways. that has not been disputed since they were invented.

    there a plenty of great bicycle trails all over town. stay off the roads. and especially stay off the damn freeway.

    NobodyYouKnow Aug 22, 2011 2:53 PM

  3. Probably not a bad idea if they offer gas masks at either end of the bridge..

    Doc B Aug 22, 2011 3:02 PM

  4. Every time this comes up, there are so many clueless responses. Most bridges like this from around the country have bike and pedestrian access. As someone said, this is a no-brainer for Milwaukee to also have it. The climb is not that difficult as the out of shape posters keep trying to have you believe. In fact, it is relatively easy. It would not be dangerous because they would put some kind of barricade between the car lanes and bike lanes. No, the wind would not blow the bikers off the bridge. Get real. Tax payer money does not go to just things that benefit everyone, there are many government expenditures that benefit a certain group, including money that goes to roads even though not everyone drives. The more ways this city makes it convenient to get around town on bikes, the less traffic there will be, which will actually help all the drivers that want to complain about spending tax payer money on bike paths. I promise you, the Hoan bridge would get used by 1000's of people each year, both recreationally and by commuters to downtown.

    MU82 Aug 22, 2011 3:03 PM

  5. If they build a pedestrian lane on the bridge I have 2 questions.

    Will there be aid stations every quarter mile in case it's hot?

    And, will I be able to drive on sidewalks now to avoid traffic on the road?

    attc44 Aug 22, 2011 3:06 PM

  6. When and if this get approved can I be 1st in line for the new SEGWAY or bicycly voucher program that will come with it?
    Are we going to install bubblers along the way too, so that there is enough water for everyone when they can't pedal or walk their whiney
    as--s over the bridge.
    What do u think the liability insurance will cost to cover this stupid idea?

    brent favre Aug 22, 2011 3:10 PM

  7. Get the word out, the meeting is tomorrow on August 23rd, from 5 to 7 PM.

    JUST DO IT!

    I-794/Hoan Bridge

    Note - August 23, 2011 WisDOT is participating in a town hall meeting with Senator Larson, Representative Richards and Representative Sinicki, from 5-7 p.m. in the Beulah Brinton Cafeteria Room, 2555 South Bay Street, in Bay View.

    Having a Marsupial bike/pedestrian bridge similar to the Marsupial bridge beneath Holton, where Van Buren turns into Holton would be spectacular.

    For those not familiar with the pedestrian bridge beneath Holton/Van Buren, it is quite close to Troccadaro.

    Check out the photos of the bridge beneath Holton.

    http://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&hl=en&source=hp&biw=1469&bih=971&q=Marsupial+bridge+Milwaukee&gbv=2&oq=Marsupial+bridge+Milwaukee&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=1869l8059l0l8378l26l22l0l13l13l0l797l2109l0.7.1.6-1l9l0

    Then try to imagine a walk or ride with a spectacular sunrise on the Daniel Hoan Memorial bridge.

    What a great tribute to a great Mayor it would be!

    It would be a great tourist attraction for both Downtown and Bayview.
    It would also be a great asset to those living in Downtown as well as those living in Bayview.

    It looks like there is a very beautiful landfill area that is being developed on the south end of the Hoan?

    JUST DO IT!

    CuriousMke Aug 22, 2011 3:19 PM

  8. odon,

    This addition would link those two north and south trails and be the focal
    point of the whole stretch. Not sure at all what you mean by 'no man's
    land' since the Oak Leaf trail exists at both ends of the bridge, within site
    of the on/off ramps. It hardly could be any easier to be honest.
    My guess would be with more efficient use of barriers and across the
    width of the bridge roadway, they could make a separate multi-use lane,
    with full barrier separating traffic, on the east edge northbound side. All
    without sacrificing anything traffic lanes.

    mikeyd Aug 22, 2011 3:33 PM

  9. To odon143031- I have a difficult time believing that you are actually a biker yourself and you do not see this as an excellent idea. Really? I have also ridden the alternate routes from the south side to downtown. There is not a good route at all, thus few people even try it. You give a beautiful, someewhat challenging and safe route over the Hoan bridge and just watch how many cyclists take advantage of it. If you are really a cyclist yourself, I am sure we will see you using it as well, all the while muttering to yourself how you can't believe you weren't in support of this from the beginning.

    MU82 Aug 22, 2011 3:40 PM

  10. By the way, the Oak Leaf trail on the east side is very, very, very heavily utilized. Every time I am running or biking on there I am so proud to see so many people out using the trail. This city is actually pretty active and by adding a great connection with the south side and east side Oak Leaf trail, it will further promote an active lifestyle, something someone like you should be encouraging, not discouraging.

    MU82 Aug 22, 2011 3:45 PM

  11. I am all for creating a bike path on the Hoan, except there are 2 problems:

    1) since there must be a barrier(fence?) between the edge of the bridge the path, and the freeway and path, how will law enforcement access the middle of the path? In this city, there will be criminals waiting in the middle of the bridge to steal or rape. How do bikers get helped? or someone decides to do a Peter Pan off the edge, how do we help them?

    2) The last time I checked, the roads were funded by a gasoline tax. How are they going to administer a bike tax to pay for this? and other bike path projects? Are people that short sighted that they cannot see this is a 3-5 million dollar project? (just for fencing) We cannot lay more on the backs of public employees (or taxpayers)

    IpayTOOmuch Aug 22, 2011 4:00 PM

  12. Do an experiment to see what this would be cost, and how many would use it.

    First, get enough donations from people and business's who want this bike trail. Then, using donated money only, pay to put up those concrete barriers in one lane...the lane on the eastern most side (or lakeside) of the bridge for one full year. Then, use a turn style or counter of some sorts to take an actual count of the number of riders using it each month. But make sure you do it monthly.

    Then tell me if it is going to be worth spending millions of dollars "just" on a bike lane, especially with the counts that you get in November, December, January, and February.

    The Daniel Webster Hoan isn't in California remember. You will learn quite quickly that the cost per rider is NOT going to be worth the cost.

    Remember, half of the people on here are people that didn't want to pay for a train that 95% of us would never use. Why should the State pay for a bike lane that would be used by even less? At least with the train, you could say there was some economic involved, and some user fees. What do you get from a bike lane. A few people who boy bike licence's? Does it bring shoppers to the Grand Avenue? Tourists to the Art Center? Or overnight hotel guests at the Hyatt?

    NormanNoShore Aug 22, 2011 4:02 PM

  13. What will all of you bikers do when the bike lane is constructed? Will you bike to the downtown area to spend time and money or do you just want to have an an uninterrupted bike lane for races and recreation?

    Be honest; what is in this for the taxpayer and the common good?

    AXPAVEO Aug 22, 2011 4:04 PM

  14. AXPAVEO - this posting from Dave Schlabowske - from the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin - has some of the answers to your questions http://overthebarsinmilwaukee.wordpress.com/2011/08/22/why-bike-the-hoan/
    He has estimates on possible usage, based on counts of Oak Leaf Trail users on either side of the Hoan.

    T. Held Aug 22, 2011 4:22 PM

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