Traffic is about to get very heavy in downtown Milwaukee. Here's how to plan ahead

Between Bastille Days wrapping up and the Republican National Convention kicking off, you should expect heavy traffic and tricky detours around downtown the week of July 14.

There will be widespread road closures and parking restrictions in place throughout the city during the convention, which runs from July 15 to 18. Check out our full RNC guide for a complete rundown of road closures, parking restrictions and public transportation changes to expect.

Some might find it wise to avoid downtown altogether or take public transportation during the convention if possible. But if you must drive into and around the city, here are some tips on how to navigate the traffic.

What to expect with downtown Milwaukee traffic

With about 50,000 visitors expected in Milwaukee for the RNC, you can definitely expect more vehicles on the road.

If you're driving downtown during the RNC, you can access the outer ring of the convention's security perimeter — the vehicle screening perimeter — with your car, but you'll have to enter through one of five vehicle checkpoints. It's likely you will have wait a bit to pass through these checkpoints, especially during peak commuting times, which is generally from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and 4:30 to 6 p.m. The screening points are marked with block dots on the map below.

If you regularly commute downtown, you should also check if your normal parking spot will be restricted during the convention. You may want to look into booking a spot in a parking lot or structure for the week, or parking a little bit further away from your downtown destination, according to city spokesperson Tiffany Shepherd.

"People should give themselves additional time to travel," Shepherd added.

How to plan ahead for detours and traffic

Aside from leaving some extra commuting time, the best way the plan ahead will probably be to map out your downtown routes ahead of time.

Google Maps and Waze usually both map routes around road closures and construction, but neither service seems to have updated their maps with upcoming RNC closures as of July 12. These routes may become available once the the bulk of closures are implemented starting July 14.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation also provides its own map service at 511wi.gov. The map will show you multiple routes to your destination using real-time data on closures, roadwork and special events, but it will not dictate directions step-by-step like a GPS app.

Finally, if you're hoping to avoid driving altogether during convention week, some public transportation services will continue to run throughout the RNC, albeit with some disruptions.

Multiple Milwaukee County Transit System bus routes will be disrupted or follow detours between July 11 and 19, along with disruptions to the County's paratransit service, Transit Plus, for riders with disabilities. Milwaukee's Hop streetcar will run on a normal schedule from 5 a.m. to midnight and arrive every 15 minutes.

Traffic and travel from Mitchell International Airport

The Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is planning to welcome thousands of additional visitors for the convention, with 11,000 visitors expected each day, up from 8,000 to 10,000 normally.

Especially on Sunday and Monday, when most convention attendees will likely be flying in, plan for more traffic and extra travel time driving into the city. If you're planning on using a ride-share service, such as Uber or Lyft, to get downtown from the airport, you may run into longer wait times and surge pricing. Cabs may also have longer wait times with more people flying into the airport than usual.

If you want to avoid the heftier price tag of a ride-share service or cab, the city runs regular buses from the airport to downtown. The GreenLine and Route 80 pick up by Baggage Claim Exit 1 and run to downtown, though expect detours on both routes as you get closer to the security perimeter. Fare is $2.00 for adults ages 12 to 64, and you can pay with cash on the bus or with credit card on the affiliated app.

The Amtrak Borealis and Hiawatha lines also provide service between the Mitchell Airport and downtown Milwaukee's Intermodal Station. Find a full list of transportation options from the Mitchell Airport here.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Expect heavy traffic in Milwaukee, Mitchell Airport with RNC 2024