Milwaukee Harley-Davidson Homecoming, ‘traffic will be impacted’
MILWAUKEE - It's going to be a loud weekend in Milwaukee as thousands of motorcyclists celebrate Harley-Davidson's 120th anniversary, and the H-D orange isn't the only orange the bikers will see on the road.
The Harley-Davidson Homecoming 120th Anniversary party July 13-16 takes place at the same time as Bastille Days in Milwaukee's Cathedral Square Park – and amid the busy construction season.
"Pretty much everywhere in the metro-Milwaukee area is going to be impacted," said Cory Strey, Milwaukee Police Department. "Traffic will be impacted in areas that they’re not used to, so take your time getting places."
The party will include performances by Foo Fighters and Green Day in Veterans Park and activities at the area Harley-Davidson dealerships, among other events planned for guests.
You should expect road closures near Veterans Park and the Harley-Davidson Museum, especially Sunday during the parade. It starts at American Family Field and ends at Veterans Park. Closures are expected from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
"There will be a lot of motorcyclists just traveling the freeways throughout this entire event," said Strey.
If you're trying to get to the lakefront, you might want to avoid Cathedral Square Park, where Bastille Days will be taking place from July 14-17. This will involve closures impacting East Kilbourn Avenue from North Jackson Street to North Milwaukee.
"The biggest thing is just watch any street signs, follow any detours that might be posted," said Strey.
All of this is in addition to the ongoing area construction projects.
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"The lanes get a little bit tighter when we’re in construction zones so double-check your mirrors if you’re on a motorcycle," said Strey. "Just be aware of any gravel, especially in construction zones.
The City of Milwaukee offers a list of current construction projects if you're interested in avoiding the impacted areas.
The Hop expands service
The Hop announced Tuesday morning that it will accommodate festival goers attending Bastille Days and the Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival by extending and expanding services.
The streetcar service will extend into both Friday and Saturday evening, while an additional vehicle will be put into use on Saturday to provide more frequent service.
Services will be briefly interrupted to accommodate the Storm the Bastille run Thursday night, with operations pausing from 9 p.m. until the conclusion of the race. Operations will resume at around 10:30 p.m. (or as soon as the route is clear) and continue until midnight to accommodate crowds leaving the festival.
The Harley-Davidson Homecoming motorcycle parade on Sunday will not impact streetcar operations.
The complete Hop schedule for the busy festival weekend is as follows:
Thursday, July 13
- Regular weekday service 5 a.m. – midnight
- Pause in service to accommodate Storm the Bastille from 9 p.m. until approximately 10:30 p.m.
Friday, July 14
- Regular weekday schedule with service extended until 1 a.m.
Saturday, July 15
- Expanded service with an additional car in use from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Regular service extended until 1 a.m.
Sunday, July 16
- Regular Sunday service