The Way I See It!

Hoan Bridge Update From Milwaukee County Supervisor Patricia Jursik

Posted by Randy Hollenbeck on June 21, 2010

Roads, Patricia Jursik, Milwaukee County, Hoan Bridge

From: "Patricia.Jursik@milwcnty.com" <Patricia.Jursik@milwcnty.com>

To: "Patricia.Jursik@milwcnty.com" <Patricia.Jursik@milwcnty.com>

Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:27:10 -0400

Subject: News Release - Hoan Bridge continues to crumble; netting is not a long-term fix

Milwaukee County Supervisor Patricia Jursik, 8th District

Coalition to Save the Hoan

For Immediate Release June 17, 2010

Contact: Harold Mester, Public Information Manager

414/278-4051 or harold.mester@milwcnty.com

HOAN BRIDGE CONTINUES TO CRUMBLE; NETTING IS NOT A LONG-TERM FIX

Milwaukee, WI – Milwaukee County Supervisor Patricia Jursik and South Shore Mayors are responding to the latest stall tactic from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) regarding the Hoan Bridge.

The DOT has announced that it is seeking a contractor to “install netting underneath a portion of the Hoan Bridge near the Jones Island Water Reclamation Facility in Milwaukee County” as well as improve and repair existing netting near the Summerfest grounds.  Published reports indicate the DOT is installing the netting to catch falling chunks of concrete.

Supervisor Jursik expressed disappointment in the DOT’s failure to complete engineering studies to re-deck the Hoan, despite a promise from DOT Secretary Frank Busalacchi to do so.  “This is not the RFP we want to see from the DOT,” said Supervisor Jursik.  “We are asking for an engineering study to include the Hoan Bridge in the next budget cycle.  Any RFP should actually fix the Hoan, rather than delay it any further.  The Hoan is well past its useful lifespan.”

South Milwaukee Mayor Thomas Zepecki, Cudahy Mayor Tony Day, and St. Francis Mayor Al Richards voiced similar concern.  The Hoan Bridge is a critical conduit for commercial and residential traffic, connecting the Port of Milwaukee, General Mitchell International Airport, and the South Shore to the Marquette Interchange and the entire Interstate system.

The Coalition to Save the Hoan, a broad group of Wisconsin residents including community, business, and elected leaders, has held public hearings and advocated for the preservation of the Hoan Bridge.  In November 2009, the Coalition submitted over 8,000 signatures to Governor Jim Doyle asking the State to re-deck the Hoan and abandon alternatives.

The DOT’s announcement can be found at http://roadwaystandards.dot.wi.gov/hcci/ .