Improvement scheduled for US 141 bridge in Marinette County

December 12, 2007

Weight limit will be raised for bridge between Niagara, Wisconsin and Iron Mountain, Michigan

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) are announcing an accelerated, short-term structural improvement to increase the allowable load limit on the US 141 bridge crossing the Menominee River between Iron Mountain, Michigan and Niagara, Wisconsin. The bridge is currently posted for 28 tons maximum load.

"Locally, this bridge is a very important transportation link," said WisDOT NE Region Director, Mike Berg. “We are planning to reinforce the steel girders and thus increase the bridges bearing load.“

"MDOT and WisDOT are pleased to be able to fast-track this project and improve the allowable load-carrying capacity of the bridge, which is needed now," said MDOT Superior Region Engineer Randy Van Portfliet.

A project to reinforce the bridge's steel girders will begin in February 2008, and be completed by March 29, 2008. Estimated cost for the two-month project is approximately $200,000. While the repair work is being done under traffic, plans call for maintaining a single lane of traffic with temporary traffic signals on each side of the bridge.

The current posting of a 28-ton maximum load, in place since November 5, remains in effect. Drivers of vehicles in excess of 28 tons (56,000 pounds) gross vehicle weight are advised to use US 8 and US 141 as an alternate route. Emergency vehicles are still allowed to use the US 141 bridge. The bridge remains safe for use by the public.

WisDOT and MDOT are still evaluating the structure to determine what the new load limit will be when repairs are complete.

Bridge replacement also planned

Both MDOT and WisDOT have also agreed to replace the entire bridge, originally built in 1929, with a new wider structure. MDOT and WisDOT met with local officials on December 6 to discuss long-term plans for the bridge. More meetings will be scheduled as planning for the project proceeds.

The bridge replacement project is tentatively scheduled to begin in the fall of 2010 and be completed in late 2011. Estimated cost of the bridge replacement is $4.2 million and will be coordinated with an urban reconstruction project on US 141 in the city of Niagara.

For more information, contact:
Kim Rudat, Regional Communications Manager 
(920) 492-5743, kim.rudat@dot.state.wi.us