Comments on: One Way to Replace The Hoan Bridge and Build a Better Milwaukee

By: Dave Reid

Dave Reid — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:44:01 +0000

@Kofi Well my specific thought on it was just one far out idea of what could be done. But the actual plan as looked at by the DOT would open up new land in the Third Ward for redevelopment which could become some of the most prime land in the city. That would be a huge benefit in and of itself.

By: Kofi Bofah

Kofi Bofah — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:31:24 +0000

Good article.

I agree that the removal of the roadway, won’t have a terrible impact on street level traffic. I have always thought that I-794 was underutilized. Even before traveling the route, it’s Interstate designation appears pointless from any map. I am aware that 794 is part of a grander freeway plan for Milwaukee that never materialized.

Conversion of 794 into a tree-lined arterial probably would allow for development along the E-W portion of the route [ river valley and canal zone South of downtown.] However, I don’t know what can be done on the Lakefront area abutting 794, as one of your readers has already pointed out.

By: Hardwood Milwaukee

Hardwood Milwaukee — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 07:58:53 +0000

Don't do it, that thing is a Milwaukee landmark! Rebuild, upgrade, restore, just don't change it too much. Think of all the marketing based on that bridge. (although that new museum is becoming a Milwaukee Icon) On second thought, leave it alone, it's not a very usefull freeway anyways, no way I want my tax dollars going to a new bridge to nowhere. Dustan Floor care tips

By: matthew

matthew — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:59:24 +0000

Or any sort of raised bridge…. http://flickr.com/photos/kworth30/2276010619/

By: matthew

matthew — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:58:08 +0000

I can’t help but think that something like the tower bridge in london would make an amazing way to frame the entrance to the harbor, while keeping the street at grade.

By: Dave Reid

Dave Reid — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:11:59 +0000

@Matt I looked at Google Streets of the park and it is a very small greenspace squeezed between the containers and another facility. It’s actually kind of funny how small it is. Anyhow that was part of my thought by moving it and using the debris you could actually create a bigger park although further east and south.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:44:44 +0000

I don’t think relocating Kaszubes park will be an issue, if you look at the satellite view it seems to be occupied not by grass and trees but by shipping containers…

By: Dave Reid

Dave Reid — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:38:45 +0000

@Michael Good point I was thinking bascule bridge but typing lift bridge. I’ve updated the article.

By: Michael Horne

Michael Horne — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:05:47 +0000

The Hoan was built to its height to accommodate large vessels. I believe it is rather tight within the Coast Guard regulations for height. Any grade-level replacement bridge must be a bascule bridge, since a lift bridge would be impracticable. You just couldn’t make it high enough, unless you build some crazy Tower Bridge structure.

Horne

By: Dave Reid

Dave Reid — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:10:39 +0000

Agreed there wouldn’t be much in the line of development on Jones Island, and I don’t point to any. Though putting traffic on the grid in Walker’s Point surely would spur business. One of things that retail establishments always look for are traffic counts prior to opening.

Further I didn’t get into it but removing the Hoan should allow for parts of I794 to come down, possibly creating a grander entranceway to Summerfest/MAM/Discovery World. And finally a greenbelt park could then be built along Summerfest in the Third Ward adding to property values and again creating a grand entrance to Summerfest. Some development may also be possible in the Third Ward (this is debatable because of legal issues).

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:38:28 +0000

Although I generally support many of the “urban” changes to Milwaukee advocated on this site, this idea is simply asinine. My cursory review of the situation yields the following reasons:

1) There is no developable land on Jones Island: No one wants to live next to a sewer treatment facility (ever driven on the Hoan Bridge with your windows down in the hot summer sun?). While in retrospect it probably wasn’t smart to place the city’s sewer facility so close to downtown, arguing against that is irrelevant. The other heavy-industrial uses of the land are not affected by the presence of the freeway.
2) The Walker’s Point/5th Ward neighborhood will not be developed by the existence of commuter traffic from the South suburbs. If anything, heavy traffic will prevent a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood. Growth will only be spurred Southward from the 3rd Ward as housing and business space is fully occupied and tenants look elsewhere but still desire to be close to downtown.
3) The WisDOT spent $810 mil upgrading the Marquette Interchange to handle a traffic pattern heading to and from the South suburbs on I-794. Whether or not one agrees with this past money and traffic allocation is irrelevant: it’s already done. To then demolish the bridge portion of I-794 would create a new stubby freeway spur about which we can whine.

The solution would be a new bridge (or modifications) which would allow cycling traffic (a pedestrian bridge suspended underneath?) and has exit ramps to and from the 3rd Ward (the original ramp patterns were designed before the revival of this area). While we’re at it, might I suggested a redesign of the interchange at the Port of Milwaukee? That ramp and road system doesn’t make sense by any standards…

By: Dave Reid

Dave Reid — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:24:24 +0000

That is an interesting idea as well and I like the cable-stayed bridges. Though for my dollars I’d like it all removed and put onto the grid somehow to open up the land for other uses. I didn’t mention it in the article but rerouting the hoan traffic as laid out in my “proposal” would also allow for freeway removal through the Third Ward and the possibility of creating a greenbelt along the Summerfest grounds as well..