Bridge inspections occurring in the Northwest Region

August 7, 2007

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) began inspections yesterday on the six deck truss bridges that lie in the 20 county area of the Northwest Region. The schedule for the remaining five bridges is as follows:

• Tuesday, August 7: I-94 bridges over the Red Cedar River in Menomonie of Dunn County
• Wednesday, August 8: Main Street Bridge over the Apple River in Somerset of St. Croix County
• Wednesday, August 8: County BB Bridge over Tainter Lake in Menomonie of Dunn County
• Thursday, August 16: US 53 over Beaver Creek in Galesville of Trempealeau County

Inspections of the deck truss structures, which are similar in design to the I-35 West bridge that collapsed in Minnesota last week, are being conducted as a precautionary measure. On a deck truss bridge, the superstructure typically consists of two parallel trusses, which are the main load-carrying members of the bridge, and the roadway is placed on top of the main members. WisDOT no longer builds deck truss bridges on the state system as they have been replaced with more modern designs.

Inspection reports are typically available within a few days and are posted on the Highway Structures Information Web site  www.dot.wisconsin.gov/business/engrserv/structures/.

For more information, contact:
Gary Brunner, Operations Chief 
(715) 836-2415

Laurie Boettcher, Communications
(715) 833-9814 / 828-2301