Plan ahead! Sheriff's Office to close Lincoln Memorial Drive, Hoan Bridge for fireworks show

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office will be closing Lincoln Memorial Drive and the Hoan Bridge in stages on Friday, July 3rd, to ensure the safety of the crowds at the lakefront for the fireworks display.

The Sheriff’s Office will partner with the Milwaukee Police Department and Milwaukee County Parks on crowd control and traffic mitigation.

Visitors hoping to park at lots accessible from Lincoln Memorial Drive should plan to arrive early. Once parking lots are full, which has occurred as early as 6:00 p.m., Lincoln Memorial Drive will be closed to traffic. With limited options for public transportation this year (due to the MCTS bus drivers strike), lots are likely to fill even earlier.

Northbound traffic on the Hoan Bridge to westbound I-794 will be open during the first phase, but the Lincoln Memorial Drive exit will be closed. The Eastbound I-94 exit to James Lovell Street and southbound on the Hoan Bridge will be open as well during this phase.

During the second phase, between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m., the Hoan Bridge will be closed in both directions. The James Lovell Street exit will be open only to shuttle bus traffic, until the conclusion of the fireworks display.

Tips for drivers due to expected increased congestion:

• Allow more time to get to the lakefront park
• Arrive earlier in the day to obtain nearby parking
• Have a backup parking plan (use nearby city street parking and walk down to the park)
• Carpool with others instead of driving separately to meet at the lakefront