The beginning of Manitowoc's One-Way Streets

Photo 2004.44.771 shows Chief Frank Tomchek, Alderman Charles Cizek and Traffic Lt. Melvin Reinhardt at the corner of S. 21st and Franklin St. removing the covering from the “No Right Turn” sign. In the background is a barricade preventing traffic from going eastbound on Franklin St.

How did one way streets in Manitowoc get started?

In August 1955, at the request of Mayor Walter Koepke,  Bryan Wilson, a traffic engineer for the Wisconsin AAA recommended to the Mayor and City Council that Manitowoc launch a one way street program. His initial recommendation was making Manila Street one way westbound from S. 10th St. to S. 16th St. and Division St. one way eastbound from S. 14th St. to S. 9th St1.   He cited both streets being too narrow for two way traffic and predicted little opposition to making these streets one way. 

He also suggested parts of Franklin St. and Marshall St. become one way to relieve traffic congestion on Washington St.   Further study was still being done to make 8th St. and 10th St. one way.

By mid-August of 1955, Wilson submitted his detailed report to Mayor Walter Koepke, with maps and charts recommending Manila and Division Streets one way and making Franklin St. one way westbound between S. 8th St. and S. 21st street and Marshall St. one way eastbound between S. 8th St. and S. 21st Street.2   

In September 1957, over 100 people attended a public hearing to listen to Wilson’s one way street proposals. Wilson stated that he expected opposition from the merchants. He reiterated his proposed plan and explained the safety factors with one way streets. He was met with strong opposition from Francis Kadow the owner of WOMT radio, William Tome a barber on 8th St. and Frank Vander Zanden a merchant on 8th St. 

In November 1959, the City Council meeting as a Committee of the Whole along with the Retail Division of the Chamber of Commerce; recommended to the City Council that all vehicle parking be moved off of 8th St. from Washington St. to Chicago St. for a trial period of 90 days beginning December 1, 1959 to facilitate the movement of traffic.  It also included a 90 trial period of one way streets that would start if traffic was not improved.

Much discussion was held when finally on May 3, 1960, the Manitowoc City Council votes 11-3 to pass an ordinance creating a 120 day plan for one way streets. The four city streets involved were: Marshall St., one way eastbound from Calumet Ave. to South 8th Street. Remember the intersection of S. 26th and Marshall was configured much differently than it is today. 

Franklin Street: one way westbound from South 8th Street to S. 26th Street

8th Street one way northbound from Washington St. to Waldo Blvd.  

North 11th St. one way southbound from Waldo Blvd. to Washington St., the route we use today.

The City prepared drivers for the big change. An article appeared in the paper on May 27 accompanied by a map preparing drivers for the change to one way streets. The map showed all the streets involved and the direction of travel on each street. The article explained that city crews have been busy re-spacing parking meters and preparing signs to help guide motorists in the proper direction. 

On June 1, 1960 at 5:00 A.M., one way streets started in Manitowoc for a trial of 120 days involving 8th, 10th (the one way route we use today), Marshall and Franklin Streets. 

In August 1960, a petition signed by approximately 1,640 people, was turned over to the City Council requesting that one way streets system established on a trial basis be discontinued immediately and that two way system be re-established.  Alderman Charles Cizek stated since June 1, statistics show there are fewer accidents for June and July and parking revenue is about the same. He stated that meetings were held with safety officials, police and planning heads and they are working for pedestrians in trying to arrange pedestrian crossings in the right places, lights on the right corners and have them synchronized. Outside of speeding no arrests have been made. Cizek felt this was not the time to bring the petitions in. 

The push began for a referendum the following month. Petitions requesting a referendum were to turned over to the City Council and City Clerk. On September 19, 1960 the council voted to have a referendum on one way streets on the November 8th election which also happened to be a Presidential election year17.  In the same resolution, it made Franklin and Marshall streets return to two way traffic and extended the trial period for one way streets to November 21st 17.

The council cleared up what could have been some confusing language on how the referendum question was worded.  Mayor Koepke read the wording which was a simple question. “Are you in favor of a one way street system?” “Yes”  or “No”.

On November 8, 1960, voters in the City of Manitowoc approve one way streets. On the following day, City Council met for the official canvas of votes and the results became official, 6,227 “Yes” to 5,927 “No” votes. A margin of 300 votes.

The City Council acted fast making one way streets permanent that night, and there was a reason.  An ordinance does not become official until it is published, which is usually five days after a council meeting. The trial period ended November 21, the next City Council meeting was November 21, had the ordinance passed on November 21 it would be at least five days before it was published making it official. This would have created a lapse from the time the trial period ended until the official ordinance making the streets permanent one way took effect.