Coalition To Save The Hoan

Local politicians have formed a coalition to save the Hoan Bridge:

Milwaukee County Supervisors Patricia Jursik, Marina Dimitrijevic and Christopher Larson, along with State Representative Christine Sinicki, have formed the Coalition to Save the Hoan in response to recent developments surrounding the Hoan Bridge. This core group of elected officials will call on other political leaders to join the coalition, which has been assembled in response to a potential hidden agenda emanating from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT), which commissioned a study from HNTB on the possible removal of the Hoan Bridge. This DOT action was taken without any public policy directive of elected officials or input from local residents and businesses.

“When a major group such as the Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce asks for a study of alternatives to the Hoan Bridge, there is a hidden assumption that the Hoan Bridge should not be resurfaced and that other links such as ground-level bridges would suffice. This is insulting to residents of Milwaukee’s south side and other south shore communities in Milwaukee County,” said Supervisor Patricia Jursik. “Before the mighty arch of the Hoan Bridge, south siders were often treated as the poor step-sister of the larger community. The recent renaissance within Bay View and the greater south shore coincides precisely with the building of the Hoan Bridge in 1977. We must not permit the DOT to steal our glass slipper, the Hoan Bridge.”

“Leave the Hoan alone,” stated Supervisor Marina Dimitrijevic. “We need to obtain the real cost estimates for re-decking this bridge. We should not just accept the DOT’s assumptions. Thanks to the revamped Marquette Interchange, Bay View is more connected than ever before. Why would we want to reverse the great progress that’s been made?”

“This bridge is an important structure to the Port of Milwaukee, facilitating the exporting and importing of goods, which, along with our low-cost airport, gives us a true competitive advantage over the Port of Chicago,” added Supervisor Chris Larson, also noting that the bridge is a major link for the Gateway District around Mitchell International Airport.

Representative Christine Sinicki has promised to hold a town hall meeting to obtain input from citizens, will work with the entire Coalition to Save the Hoan, and do everything within her power as a State lawmaker to keep this bridge in place. The core group will contact political leaders to strengthen the coalition and formulate policy directives to preserve this vital economic link with downtown Milwaukee.

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