The possible replacement of a Milwaukee roundabout that’s been the site of dozens of car crashes since 2020 has seen its funding proposal win a key city endorsement.
The proposal, from Mayor Cavalier Johnson’s administration, calls for spending $17.2 million from the Reed Street Yards tax incremental financing district on street work, housing programs, and other projects within or near Walker’s Point.
That financing district uses property tax revenue generated by Reed Street Yards, a Walker’s Point business park anchored by Rite-Hite Holding Corp.’s headquarters.
The Common Council’s Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee recommended approval for the funding proposal at its July 28 meeting, with the full council to review it on July 31.
The projects to be funded include an estimated $1.8 million to redesign and improve the Sixth Street Roundabout at West Florida Street.
The roundabout saw 58 crashes from 2020 through 2023, an average of nearly 15 per year, according to the city Department of Public Works.
Concrete barriers used to reduce Sixth Street traffic lanes near the roundabout from four to two have reduced speeding, according to the department, with 12 crashes from 2024 through 2025.
Now, department officials want to consider other measures, including a possible smaller roundabout, said City Engineer Kevin Muhs, or perhaps replacing the roundabout with a conventional traffic light intersection.
The Sixth Street Roundabout opened around 20 years ago when the street’s viaduct was replaced.
Since then, U.S. cities have been adding smaller roundabouts which are simpler to navigate, Muhs told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
That includes a new roundabout at West Lisbon Avenue and North 92nd Street, and another under construction at Lisbon Avenue and 84th Street, he said.
The same spending plan also calls for removing nearby railroad tracks that run across part of West Canal Street and create a hazard for people riding bikes; repaving South Second Street, between West Florida and West Oregon streets, and improving the West Seeboth Street pedestrian underpass, between South First and South Second streets.
The underpass is near newer commercial developments, including Cream City Lofts, 170 S. Second St.
That block also features some redevelopment candidates, such as the former Just Art’s Saloon and its adjoining lots, at 181, 183 and 185-187 S. Second St., and the Lindsay Brothers and Walsh buildings, at 126 and 160 S. Second St.
Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram,Bluesky, X and Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee roundabout could be replaced. That plan wins city funding OK
Reporting by Tom Daykin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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By Tom Daykin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
