DOT comments on Hoan Bridge bike lane reviewed

MILWAUKEE -- Intense debate continues over whether a bike path should be added to the Hoan Bridge along Milwaukee's lakefront. The Department of Transportation says they've received over 650 written comments through mail, email and at public hearings.

The Milwaukee Business Journal review the letters to the DOT, and that review shows there is no public consensus on whether the bike lane is a good idea, or even which design option would be best. The design options include rehabilitating the bridge and not adding a bike lane, to building a second structure next to the bridge that would include a bike lane. Project costs range from just over $9 million, to close to $100 million.

This month, the DOT says it will narrow down its options, and then initiate new public discussion before applying for federal approval.

In late November, Senator Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee) dropped off over 5,000 signatures collected in support of adding the bike and a pedestrian lane to the bridge.

For more on the Hoan Bridge bike path debate, see Sean Ryan's front page story in this week's edition of the Business Journal, which hits newsstands Friday, December 9th.