A Vision For The Hoan Bridge: Bike And Pedestrian Path … And Why Not Lights?

Milwaukee County Supervisor Pat Jursik has a nice piece in the new edition of the Bay View Compass newspaper sharing her vision for the Hoan Bridge — one that includes a bike and pedestrian path.

Read it here. From it (including her thoughts on the broader harbor area):

Starting from the south shore, develop the fill area north of the Lake Express ferry terminal lot (the Confined Disposal Facility) as park space with bike rentals, ice cream stands, and other amenities. From here, a bike lane will run through Jones Island (connecting to the Oak Leaf Trail currently ending in Cupertino Park at Russell Avenue and Lincoln Memorial Drive) to the area near the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District facility.

A beautifully constructed and artistically pleasing bike ramp or spiral form will convey both pedestrians and bicyclists up to the cantilevered bridge that hangs from the arch, roughly parallel to Interstate 794. Beautiful vistas of the lake and Milwaukee skyline award the ascent with a breathtaking view of the Calatrava, Discovery World, and the Lakeshore State Park island. Cyclists and pedestrians would then pass through a fully encased trail, quite safe, and arrive on the other side of the cantilevered span at a second ramp/spiral bikecase that leads them back down to ground level on the north side of the Milwaukee River. Here, a freshly paved path skirts behind the Marcus Amphitheater and connects to the current Lakeshore State Park trail.

With the proper vision and investment, our Hoan Bridge could become the rival of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia, which allows tethered pedestrians to climb on top of the bridge for a fee.

I applaud Pat for thinking big when it comes to the Hoan and the harbor. And I agree with her sentiments. But I’d like to add another element to that vision: lights. I think the Hoan Bridge arch should be lit at night.

Of course, this is purely a cosmetic upgrade, and I am sure it won’t be cheap, but I think the benefits are real. Lighting the bridge would add significantly to Milwaukee’s skyline and make the bridge a real conversation piece among residents and visitors.

Think New York, Boston, even Muscatine, Iowa, and our own Sixth Street Viaduct. Or this unknown location. I hope the Hoan can join that list.

And with advances in lighting technology (LEDs, etc.) I am betting it can be done more cost effectively now than it ever could in years past.

What do you think of the idea? Post your comments below! (And vote in my new poll.)