the capacity. Those hits certainly ….
the capacity. Those hits certainly can do some damage.”
Hagen said the Wisconsin Department of Transportation did make a determination that the County G bridge is too old and dysfunctional for renovation. To widen the deck beyond its narrow 24-foot width would have required major structural upgrades, Hagen said, making a renovation too costly.
“On this particular bridge, rehabilitation is not feasible,” Hagen said. “This bridge is both structurally deficient and functionally obsolete.”
The new bridge under design will be wider and longer. It will still have 11-foot traffic lanes, but there will be four feet of shoulder space on either side. Now there is less than a foot, which makes it “uncomfortable” for pedestrians or bicyclists.
“It’s pretty narrow,” Hagen said.
The new bridge could also be widened further to add a lane for snowmobile and ATV traffic. Clark County has applied for funding through the state recreational vehicle registration fund, and if money is available, there is time to design the new span with the extra width.
“We don’t know what the results of that funding will be,” Hagen said.
Without the extra lane, the new bridge is being designed with a 32-foot width.
It will also be a foot higher in elevation. The extra elevation is needed to accommodate hydraulic loads during times of high water, and that will mean the bridge will also be lengthened a bit.
The new bridge will have two concrete abutments placed in the river. There is just one abutment now, in the bridge’s center.
Hagen said the exact project timeline is still uncertain, but plans are going forward for a 2023 construction season project. The official detour will take traffic south to the Black River bridge on County Road OO. The project will begin with removal of the old structure, and there will be no time during work when the any traffic will be able to pass.
“Five to six months is what we’re estimating right now,” Hagen said.
Because the river depth is too shallow during low water times, crews will not be able to use a barge as a work base. Instead, gravel approaches will be built from both sides to bring in equipment.
State transportation funds will cover 80 percent of the total project, with Clark County on the hook for the rest because the bridge is on a county road.
“It’s a pretty good deal for the county,” Hagen said.
“On this particular bridge, rehabilitation is not feasible. This bridge is both structurally deficient and functionally obsolete.” -- AECON engineer Kevin Hagen
