Editor’s note: The following is the text of a letter sent from Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett on Wednesday to Wisconsin Transportation Secretary Frank Busalacchi and Mark Miller and Mark Pocan, co-chairs of the Legislative Joint Committee on Finance in Madison, regarding the deterioration of the Hoan Bridge.
Dear Secretary Busalacchi, Senator Miller, and Representative Pocan:
News today that Wisconsin is set to receive an unexpected $105 million in additional federal highway aid for road projects presents a timely and commonsense solution to repairing the Hoan Bridge.
I am requesting that you take the necessary action to allocate, from the $105 million, the funds necessary to engineer and re-deck the Hoan Bridge. I ask that this be done immediately to ensure that the bridge does not continue to deteriorate.
This is the perfect opportunity to commit the necessary resources, estimated to be $50 million, to repair and maintain this vital traffic connection between downtown Milwaukee, Mitchell International Airport and Milwaukee’s southern suburbs.
I look forward to working with you to ensure the reconstruction of the Hoan Bridge receives the resources and attention it deserves.
Sincerely,
Tom Barrett
Mayor
(To view Wednesday’s Milwaukee Biz Blog about the Hoan Bridge by BizTimes Milwaukee executive editor Steve Jagler, click here.)
