Hoan Bridge

The Daniel Hoan Memorial Bridge is a tied-arch structure spanning the Milwaukee River inlet and carrying six lanes of Interstate 794 across 3,057 meters (10,032 feet). The roadway runs in two separate levels, with steel-reinforced box girders transferring load onto twin steel arches.

Construction began in 1970, but opposition to planned freeway links delayed the opening until 1977. For years the span terminated without connection on the southern shore and became known as the Bridge to Nowhere.

The structure honors a longtime mayor of Milwaukee and connects the harbor district with downtown. At night, programmable lights along the arches change color to mark holidays or local sports victories.

The clearance of 36.6 meters (120 feet) allows large ships to enter the harbor. Drivers can see the entire harbor bay and downtown skyline, especially from the highest point of the roadway.

In December 2000, two support beams failed and caused the northbound lanes to buckle, forcing a complete renovation. Engineers later installed a monitoring system with sensors that track any unusual movement in the steel arches.

Location: Wisconsin

Inception: 1977

Official opening: 1977

GPS coordinates: 43.02500,-87.89889

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:29