Construction Begins on Rapid Implementation Bike Lane Project

Starting as early as Friday, August 4, 2023 and continuing up to Saturday, August 12, 2023 (and possibly a few days longer as all work is weather dependent - rain/wet pavement can limit the ability of contractors to complete some of this type of work) the City will be installing paint-and-post protected bike lanes for purposes of traffic calming on North Avenue.

The City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works, in coordination with the East Side Business Improvement District #20 and Alderman Brostoff, will be installing "rapid implementation" protected bike lanes on North Avenue between the east end of the bridge over the River and Prospect Avenue, as well as on Prospect Avenue between North and Maryland Avenues. These protected bike lanes will increase safety for all users of the street, whether walking, biking, or driving, by calming traffic and providing a more secure and comfortable environment for people walking and biking. The new bike lanes will be against the curb on both sides of the street, with a painted buffer that includes plastic posts (called "flexible delineators") between the bike lanes and cars.

To narrow the crossing distance for people walking, calm traffic, and provide increased safety for people biking, parking will be removed along the south side of the street, and parking will be located between the buffer and the automobile travel lane on the north side of the street. One driving lane in each direction will remain, like today. Please click here to see a more detailed diagram of the proposed project.

Additional changes will occur throughout the month of August to modify parking signage and meters to reflect the new street design. If you have questions about the design or the project, please contact Mike Amsden, Multimodal Transportation Manager for the Department of Public Works, at mamsde@milwaukee.gov or 414-708-2445.

More permanent traffic calming improvements for North Avenue (click here to see the North Avenue Streetscape Plans) are coordinated with and will build on this immediate project. Many of the more permanent improvements will be constructed next year and additional engagement from BID members and the public is expected as the designs on those improvements are refined over the winter.