Bridgetender Signals; Day and Night.
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 118-54
in effect118-54. Bridgetender Signals; Day and Night.
1. DURING DAYTIME. a. To Open and Close Bridge. Whenever any such bridge shall be opened in the daytime for the passage of any vessel, the bridgetender or bridgetenders thereon shall lower the signal ball or balls thereon immediately after such bridge shall start to open. Before starting to close such bridge the bridgetender or tenders thereon shall raise such ball or balls. Such balls shall be raised at all times except as above provided in this section.
b. To Proceed. The lowering of such ball shall be the signal to such vessel that such bridge will be opened and that such vessel may proceed toward such bridge; but no act on the part of any bridgetender or any other person in the daytime other than the lowering of such ball or balls shall be construed to be an invitation to any vessel to proceed to and through such bridge or as an indication that such bridge will be opened.
2.
BRIDGE SIGNALS AT NIGHT.
a. Whenever any vessel shall approach any swing drawbridge in the nighttime, the appearance of 3 green lights in a line up and down stream above the draw of such bridge shall be a signal to proceed to and through such bridge.
b. Whenever any vessel shall approach any bascule bridge in the nighttime, the appearance of the green lights at the top on each side of the opening and above the low red lights shall be the signal to proceed to and through said bridge.
c. No act upon the part of any bridgetender or any other person in the nighttime, other than the appearance of said green lights as provided in this section, shall be construed as an invitation to any vessel to proceed to and through such bridge, or as an indication that such bridge will be opened.
Source: City of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau, Milwaukee City Charter and Code of Ordinances (city.milwaukee.gov master PDFs)URL: https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccClerk/Ordinances/Volume-1/CH118.pdf#page=23Fetched: 10/26/2026