Milwaukee County Supervisor Pat Jursik wants to see the Hoan Bridge redecked and not replaced with a smaller, lower bridge that might require a lift or other device to permit shipping to enter the Port of Milwaukee. There’s no denying the extension of the 794 freeway into the south shore suburbs has been a good thing for suburbs like St. Francis, South Milwaukee, Cudahy, and Oak Creek, and so it’s vitally important to keep that connection intact. Redecking the Hoan Bridge is estimated to cost over 100 million dollars, but Supervisor Jursik has a plan to cover the cost (emphasis mine):
If the state wants to know where it can get funds to pay for the re-decking of the bridge and the extension of the 794 freeway, it can come from a toll road from the Wisconsin/Illinois state line to the county line. My constituents understand the need to collect money from snowbirds who earned their pensions here but no longer pay state taxes and only return to enjoy our parks and festivals. Many of these individuals visit Milwaukee County from places that already charge tolls to tourists from Wisconsin.
Let me first say I use 794 (including the Hoan Bridge) every day, so I know all too well how convenient the connection it provides is to residents of the southern suburbs, but there’s a serious flaw in Supervisor Jursik’s logic.
A toll road from the Wisconsin-Illinois state line to the Milwaukee County line won’t just affect “snowbirds who earned their pensions here but no longer pay state taxes and only return to enjoy our parks and festivals;” it’ll affect lots of permanent residents of Wisconsin, and no doubt a good number of residents of Milwaukee County who might venture south of the Milwaukee County line regularly for work or play. Further, turning I-94 in Racine and Kenosha Counties into a toll road will impose an unfair cost on the residents of those counties who may utilize I-94 on a daily basis, many of whom I’m sure don’t use the Hoan Bridge or 794 on a daily basis. Why should residents of Racine and Kenosha Counties foot the bill so that residents of Milwaukee County can continue to enjoy the convenience of the connection the Hoan Bridge provides?
My first thought was “It’s a good thing I take the bus so much now,” but then it occurred to me that I was just on the Hoan a few hours ago, going over it both ways. I consider this a trial balloon. I agree that the bridge direly needs resurfacing, and perhaps rebuilding. But can we keep the name? Please?
Jason, there’s no disputing the bridge needs to be resurfaced, but to play devil’s advocate, what’s the problem with a lower bridge? I understand there’s the issue of traffic into and out of the inner Milwaukee harbor, but if I recall, that’s not an insurmountable issue to overcome.
Didn’t say there was a problem. ;->
I really hope they can rebuild it as a lower bridge (generally following Alderman Bauman’s thoughts). The potential to open up new land for development in the Third Ward, and better connect downtown to the Third Ward is huge.
Dave, that would be the ideal solution, at least in my opinion. The south shore suburbs would retain their connection to Milwaukee via 794, while perhaps even offering better connections to Milwaukee’s Third Ward than what the Hoan has to offer.
If they build a lower bridge how will they deal with the traffic going into and out of the inner Milwaukee harbor? I’m not familiar with how much traffic there is… My daughter uses the Hoan Bridge almost daily. She lives on the East side but works in South Milwaukee. I can’t imagine what a pain it would be not to have that connection.
Anon, one plan being offered is to keep the connection, but to lower the bridge across the harbor to create more access to the Third Ward. As for the traffic coming into and out of the harbor, I can say I’ve never seen any traffic coming in or going out during the morning or afternoon commute. What’s more, one plan being offered would mandate that traffic in and out of the harbor would have to happen at night.
A big problem is that our elected representatives are not getting information on this proposal. Why is this?
I understand that Supervisor Jursik was forced to file a special request with the state to get information.
Representative Honadel indicated that he has not been kept as informed as he would have expected.
Kathleen, another problem is our elected official misrepresenting things. They’re making it seem like the Hoan will be torn down without any replacement, but that’s just not the case.
Sorry; I really should not speak for Representative Honadel or Supervisor Jursik.
Please contact them directly, and take the opportunity to express your opinion on the proposed Hoan Bridge removal.
Representative Mark Honadel
888-534-0021 Toll Free
rep.honadel@legis.wisconsin.gov
Supervisor Pat Jursik
Phone: 414-278-4222