Possible Lake Parkway extension discussed

I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this…

The study panel, led by Milwaukee County Supervisor Patricia Jursik, is gathering public reaction to the prospect of extending the Lake Parkway, state Highway 794, from Edgerton Ave. in Cudahy to Ryan Road in Oak Creek, running alongside the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. Like the existing four-mile stretch, the extension would be a four-lane highway with a 40-mph speed limit.

Planners and south suburban leaders say the extension would spur economic development and reduce traffic congestion on nearby streets, trimming five minutes off what is now a 15-minute drive from Layton Ave. to Ryan Road. Those themes resonated with many in the crowd.

The proposal to extend the Lake Parkway is being spearheaded by County Supervisor Pat Jursik, who once proposed toll roads from the Wisconsin/Illinois state line to the Milwaukee County line to pay for the Hoan Bridge to be redecked at a cost of over $100 million.

While I certainly see the benefits associated with extending the Lake Parkway into Oak Creek, it certainly seems hard to say if those benefits will outweigh the high cost associated with that extension.