MILWAUKEE — Anyone visiting downtown Milwaukee Tuesday evening should expect some traffic delays.
President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are expected to be in Milwaukee Tuesday night for a campaign rally at the Milwaukee Panther Arena. 24 hours ahead of their visit, crowds began to lineup outside the arena.
Prior to their arrival, Cudahy police and the Milwaukee Bucks are warning Milwaukee citizens of expected traffic and delays.
The Milwaukee Bucks are urging fans to arrive early for Tuesday's game due to expected delays from the president's visit. Typically, Fiserv Forum opens its doors at 5:30 p.m. for 7:00 p.m. games but due to the expected congestion, they are opening their doors 30 minutes earlier, at 5:00 p.m.
The Milwaukee Police Department says street closures will begin at 12:00 p.m. and are expected to reopen at 10:00 p.m. in the following areas:
- West State Street: Old World 3rd Street to North James Lovell Street will be closed
- West Kilbourn Avenue: Old World 3rd Street to North 6th Street will be closed
- North Vel R. Phillips Street: West Wells Street to 1034 North Vel R. Phillips Street will be closed
- North 6th Street: West Wells Street to West State Street will be closed
- North 6th Street will be impacted from West McKinley Avenue to West State Street all day
Intermittent access will be allowed to the parking lot at North 6th Street and West State Street. Drop-offs, including rideshares, will be allowed to drop off at North Vel R. Phillips Street and West Highland Avenue. Those vehicles must enter from the east at Old World 3rd Street and West Highland Avenue.
Parking will be allowed in the parking lots in the area; however, there will be no on street parking at the following locations:
- West Highland Avenue from Old World 3rd Street to North 7th Street
- North 6th Street from West Highland Avenue to West Wells Street
- West McKinley Avenue from North Old World 3 rd Street to North 6th Street
Cudahy police also stated that they will be assisting the president's visit with traffic control and added police presence. Additionally, they would like to warn Milwaukee drivers that portions of S. Pennsylvania Avenue will close and traffic will be re-routed during the late afternoon and evening hours.
"We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause and we appreciate everyone's patience tomorrow," said Sgt. Tom Livesey with Cudahy Police Department.
In addition to the Bucks game and President Trump's visit, there will also be an anti-Trump rally at Red Arrow Park Tuesday night which may draw in even more crowds.
The Milwaukee County Transit System also says bus routes may experience delays and temporary detours from approximately 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Tuesday due to street closures.
MCTS expects that there will be impacts to Route 80 as well as Freeway Flyer Routes 44, 49, 79 and 143. Bus stops along 6th Street between Wisconsin and Highland and on Kilbourn between 6th and Vel Phillips will be unavailable during that window.
Anyone who wants to avoid parking downtown on Tuesday can ride MCTS Routes 15, 19, 33, 57, 80 and the GreenLine – which all stop within walking distance of the arena district. They say to be aware that there may be delays and temporary detours.
