HOWARD AVENUE REPLACEMENT PROJECT

OVERVIEW

The City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works and State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation are planning to replace East/West Howard Avenue from South 6th Street to South Clement Avenue (1.3 miles). The scope of work includes removing and replacing deteriorated pavement, curb & gutter, driveway approaches and sidewalk. Pedestrian curb ramps will be built to meet ADA compliance, and we will consider enhancements to pedestrian and bike accommodations. Drainage structures, street lighting and traffic signals will also be upgraded.

PROJECT SCHEDULE 

We are currently in the design phase through 2023. Construction is tentatively scheduled for 2024.

GOALS

• Upgrade pavement conditions
• Better organize all modes of traffic
• Manage driving speeds
• Improve visibility for all users
• Make travel safe and comfortable for everyone

FUNDING 

Estimated construction cost is $8.0 to $8.5 million dollars. Approximate construction cost breakdown: 

• 80% cost covered by the State 
• 20% cost covered by the City

FACTS 

• East/West Howard Avenue is a Local Road, classified as a minor arterial from Clement to Howell, and a MAP 21 Principal arterial from Howell to 6th.
• Average Daily Traffic Count: 12,200-22,800 vehicles
• Posted speed: 30 mph
• No existing bus routes
• Roadway Width: 28-ft roadways

MAP 

PROPOSED FINAL DESIGN PLAN

We divided Howard Avenue into two sections for design plans. The two preferred alternative design sections shown below will move forward into final design. These two designs were shown at the public involvement meeting on June 6, 2022 at Bay View Montessori School, 357 East Howard Avenue.

1. HOWARD AVENUE - SOUTH 6TH STREET TO SOUTH HOWELL AVENUE
PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE DESIGN SECTION

Features:

• Two 10-ft travel lanes in each direction
• 5.75-ft on-street bike lane on each side
• 16-ft median
• 7.25-ft curbside terrace on each side
• 6-ft sidewalk on each side

2. HOWARD AVENUE - SOUTH HOWELL AVENUE TO SOUTH CLEMENT AVENUE
PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE DESIGN SECTION

Features:

• One 10-ft travel lane in each direction
• 8-ft parking lane on each side
• 6.5-ft bike lane on each side, separated from the road by 3-ft terrace
• 5-6 ft terrace
• 6-ft sidewalk on each side

PREVIOUS ALTERNATIVE DESIGN OPTIONS

The following design alternatives were previously presented at the virtual Public Involvement Meeting in May 2021. We developed these design options using the feedback and input we received from residents and the community from the 1st Public Involvement Meeting held in October 2020. We divided Howard Avenue into two sections to review:

1. Howard Avenue from South 6th Street to South Howell Avenue: 4 design options
2. Howard Avenue from South Howell Avenue to South Clement Avenue: 2 design options

HOWARD AVENUE - SOUTH 6TH STREET TO SOUTH HOWELL AVENUE
EXISTING SECTION

Existing Features:

• Two driving lanes in each direction (11 ft and 10 ft)
• Median (14 ft)
• Parking lane on both sides (7 ft)
• Curbside terrace (8 ft) 
• Sidewalk (6 ft)

HOWARD AVENUE - SOUTH 6TH STREET TO SOUTH HOWELL AVENUE

There are four design options for the segment of Howard Avenue from South 6th Street to South Howell Avenue. 

OPTION 1

Option 1 Features:

• Median removed
• Two driving lanes in each direction (both 11 ft)
• Parking lane on both sides (8 ft)
• Protected bike lane in each direction (6 ft)
• Curbside terrace (5 ft)
• Sidewalk (5 ft)
• 49 existing trees and 2 signature beds are anticipated to be removed
   

OPTION 2

Option 2 Features:

• Median removed
• Two driving lanes in each direction (both 11 ft)
• On-street bike lane in each direction (5 ft)
• Parking lane on both sides(8 ft)
• Curbside terrace (9 ft)
• Sidewalk (5 ft)
• 7 existing trees and 2 signature beds are anticipated to be removed

OPTION 3

Option 3 Features:

• Median (16 ft)
• Two driving lanes in each direction (both 11 ft)
• No parking lane in either direction
• Off-street raised bike lane (5 ft, plus 3 ft clearance)
• Curbside terrace (5 ft)
• Sidewalk (5 ft)
• 44 existing trees are anticipated to be removed 
   

OPTION 4

Option 4 Features:

• Median (14 ft)
• Two driving lanes in each direction (both 11 ft)
• Parking lane on both sides (8 ft)
• Curbside terrace (7ft)
• Sidewalk (6 ft)
• 12 existing trees are anticipated to be removed

HOWARD AVENUE FROM SOUTH HOWELL AVENUE TO SOUTH CLEMENT AVENUE
EXISTING SECTION

Existing Section Features:

• Median (14 ft)
• Two driving lanes in each direction (both 10 ft)
• Parking lane on both sides (7 ft)
• Curbside terrace (7 ft)
• Sidewalk (6 ft)

OPTION A

Option A Features:

• Median (16 ft)
• One driving lane in each direction (11 ft)
• On-street bike lane in each direction (5 ft)
• Parking lane on both sides (8 ft)
• Curbside terrace (9 ft)
• Sidewalk (6 ft)
• 3 existing trees are anticipated to be removed 

OPTION B 

Option B Features:

• Median (16 ft)
• One driving lane in each direction (11 ft)
• Parking lane on both sides (8 ft)
• Off-street raised bike lane in each direction (5 ft)
• Curbside terrace (7 ft)
• Sidewalk (6 ft)
• 8 existing trees are anticipated to be removed 

COMMUNITY MEETINGS & DOCUMENTS

The City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works holds public involvement meetings to receive input and share project details with residents and businesses located in the project area. 

Public Involvement Meeting #3 - June 6, 2022 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Open house, in-person meeting at Bay View Montessori School, 357 East Howard Avenue, in the gymnasium 

• Handout

Virtual Public Involvement Meeting #2 - May 11, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

• Presentation
• Recording of the meeting 
  (Youtube’s automatic Closed Captioning enabled and multi-lingual capability available)

Virtual Public Involvement Meeting #1 – October 7, 2020 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

• Presentation
• Recording of the meeting

DOCUMENTS

• Comment Card
• Project Location Map

PROJECT CONTACTS

Greg Hafeman, WisDOT Local Program Project Manager
[email protected]
262-548-8677

Samuel Medhin, Project Manager
[email protected]
414-286-0474