Park Freeway
Encyclopedia
The Park Freeway was a freeway planned and partially constructed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
, United States
. It is notable for the freeway removal
policy that demolished Park East Freeway, the only section to be completed.
The planned eastern terminus of the Park Freeway in downtown Milwaukee was near Prospect Avenue and Ogden Avenue. At that point, the freeway was to turn southward as the Lake Freeway. The Park East Freeway, as built, extended from Jefferson Street westward to Interstate 43
, carrying Highway 145
.
From I-43, the Park West Freeway was to continue northwesterly to just north of North Avenue. From there, it would continue westward to its intersection with the Stadium Freeway
.
The right of way for the entire Park Freeway was purchased and cleared. However, only a small portion was ever built - between North 12th Street and North Jefferson Street. Because of opposition of the freeway by community leaders, the remainder of the freeway was never built, and the right of way lay vacant for years. Much of the land has been redeveloped.
The only built portion was demolished beginning in 2002, most of which was replaced by an improved at-grade West McKinley Avenue and East Knapp Street and a new drawbridge
over the Milwaukee River
. The right of way of the former freeway remains mostly vacant as of 2011.
Community leaders and some local politicians claimed that the people of Milwaukee did not support the Park West and that it was built to serve only suburbanites even though The Park West Freeway was supported by a majority of the Milwaukee County electorate in a November 1974 referendum. In fact, all 5 contested freeway routes in Milwaukee County were supported by a majority of the County electorate.
http://www.wisconsinhighways.org/milwaukee/referendum_map_1974.html
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is notable for the freeway removal
Freeway removal
Freeway removal is a public policy of urban planning designed to create mixed-use urban areas with a concentration of residential, commercial, and other land uses. Also known as activity centres, cities have begun removing existing or incomplete infrastructure to create parks, waterfronts, and...
policy that demolished Park East Freeway, the only section to be completed.
The planned eastern terminus of the Park Freeway in downtown Milwaukee was near Prospect Avenue and Ogden Avenue. At that point, the freeway was to turn southward as the Lake Freeway. The Park East Freeway, as built, extended from Jefferson Street westward to Interstate 43
Interstate 43
Interstate 43 is a intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the U.S. state of Wisconsin, connecting Interstate 39 and Interstate 90 in Beloit with Milwaukee and U.S. Route 41 and U.S. Route 141 in Green Bay. I-43 is the 5th longest intrastate Interstate Highway of the Interstate...
, carrying Highway 145
Wisconsin Highway 145
State Trunk Highway 145 is a road which connects the northwest suburbs of Milwaukee with the city's downtown. For much of its route, the highway is known as Fond du Lac Avenue....
.
From I-43, the Park West Freeway was to continue northwesterly to just north of North Avenue. From there, it would continue westward to its intersection with the Stadium Freeway
Stadium Freeway (Wisconsin)
The Stadium Freeway is a 6-lane divided highway running north–south in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This freeway was the first road of its kind built in Milwaukee County. It is designated as US Highway 41 along its northern stretch from Interstate 94 to Lisbon Avenue...
.
The right of way for the entire Park Freeway was purchased and cleared. However, only a small portion was ever built - between North 12th Street and North Jefferson Street. Because of opposition of the freeway by community leaders, the remainder of the freeway was never built, and the right of way lay vacant for years. Much of the land has been redeveloped.
The only built portion was demolished beginning in 2002, most of which was replaced by an improved at-grade West McKinley Avenue and East Knapp Street and a new drawbridge
Drawbridge
A drawbridge is a type of movable bridge typically associated with the entrance of a castle surrounded by a moat. The term is often used to describe all different types of movable bridges, like bascule bridges and lift bridges.-Castle drawbridges:...
over the Milwaukee River
Milwaukee River
The Milwaukee River is a river in the state of Wisconsin. It is about long.- Description :The river begins in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin and flows south past Grafton to downtown Milwaukee, where it empties into Lake Michigan...
. The right of way of the former freeway remains mostly vacant as of 2011.
Community leaders and some local politicians claimed that the people of Milwaukee did not support the Park West and that it was built to serve only suburbanites even though The Park West Freeway was supported by a majority of the Milwaukee County electorate in a November 1974 referendum. In fact, all 5 contested freeway routes in Milwaukee County were supported by a majority of the County electorate.
http://www.wisconsinhighways.org/milwaukee/referendum_map_1974.html
External links
- Wisconsin Highways: Milwaukee Freeways: Park Freeway, Christopher Bessert
- Congress for the New Urbanism History of the Park East