The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce this week requested that Governor Jim Doyle order an in-depth study of rehabilitation and replacement options for the Hoan Bridge.
The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) this week requested that Governor Jim Doyle order an in-depth study of rehabilitation and replacement options for the Hoan Bridge in Milwaukee.
“The clock is ticking, and doing nothing is not an option,” said MMAC President Tim Sheehy. “In the near future we will need to make a multi-million dollar decision on whether to rehabilitate the Hoan Bridge as it is or replace it with some other alternative. Given the tremendous cost and the economic impact involved, it is important that we get all the facts on the table soon for the public and policy makers.”
The bridge, which connects downtown Milwaukee to Bay View, St. Francis, Cudahy and other communities on the south side, needs an estimated $200 million in repairs. Because of the costs of the repairs the state is considering other options, including replacement of the bridge with a street level boulevard. The DOT hired a consulting firm to examine what real estate development possibilities would be created by lowering the bridge to grade level.
“MMAC supports an in-depth study of all the various options for the future of this corridor, including replacement of the bridge as is, replacement in a different form, or relocation of this transportation corridor to an entirely different footprint,” said Sheehy. “We believe that a detailed analysis of all these various options, their costs and their benefits, and the views of the impacted communities will be critical to ensuring that the best decision is ultimately made for our economy and our taxpayers.”
