14-04-2025
Milwaukee's Hoan Bridge will be lit on both sides this summer, as east-side light installation to start
Milwaukee's Hoan Bridge will soon be illuminated on both sides.
In celebration of 414 Day on Monday, Light the Hoan announced that the installation of lights on the east, harbor-facing side of the bridge will begin this month.
After the installation is done, the bridge will be lit on both sides. The east-side lighting project is expected to be finished in June, Light the Hoan said in a news release Monday.
"Lighting the east side will extend the joy and visibility of this now-iconic landmark to even more people across the city," Light the Hoan said.
Light the Hoan, a nonprofit organization, first illuminated the west side of the Hoan Bridge in the fall of 2020 after a four-year crowdfunding effort. Each bulb represents a donation from an individual, business or organization. The lights have been shining nightly since October 2020, according to the organization.
Over the years, the lights have changed color to honor members of the community, celebrate holidays and important sports moments, and mark elections, graduations and more.
"The Hoan Bridge is more than a piece of infrastructure — it's Milwaukee's bridge," Light the Hoan executive director Erika Smith said. "Over the past five years, it has become a symbol of our city's resilience, progress and creativity. This next phase of lighting is something we can all celebrate — as it will now be visible from Milwaukee's south lakefront and even to those flying into the city."
Light the Hoan said illuminating the east side will allow the organization to engage with more people and create new opportunities for interactive programming. The organization is still accepting bulb donations and dedications.
An official east-side lighting ceremony will take place this summer, though the date hasn't been announced.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee's Hoan Bridge will be lit on both sides this summer
