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Claude Allouez Bridge project history

Bridge history | Project history

Who was Father Claude Allouez?

Father Claude Allouez was a priest of the Society of Jesus who established the first permanent mission along the banks of the Fox River. The mission was built in the vicinity of the bridge approach in east De Pere. It was constructed in 1671 and served the local Native Americans until 1728.

Because of the efforts of Father Allouez as an early pioneer of Wisconsin, the Claude Allouez Bridge was named in his honor.

Bridge history

In the 1930s, De Pere was projected to be a place of future business and residential growth. To accommodate and encourage growth, the Claude Allouez Bridge was built in 1932. Since then, the bridge has served as a main artery for traffic across the Fox River into downtown De Pere.

Over the years, the bridge has undergone numerous repairs to maintain safety:

• The lift span received a new deck in 1965.
• The lift span was again repaired in 1986.
• The rest of the structure received an asphalt overlay in 1974.
• A new concrete deck was put on in 1977.
• Since 1977, the deck has been repaired 27 times in various locations.
• In 2001, an asphalt overlay was placed on the deck.

Project history

1996 - Brown County Comprehensive Transportation and Land-Use Plan recommends expansion of the bridge to four-lanes.

1997 - City of De Pere forms Ad-Hoc Planning Committee to investigate alternates.

1997 - City of De Pere's Ad-Hoc Planning Committee identifies project purpose, list of goals and seven preliminary alternatives.

1998 - Traffic engineering study conducted on the seven preliminary alternatives.

1998 - Traffic engineering study completed. Alternatives reduced to three.

1999 - Environmental assessment of the three feasible alternatives and the no build alternative is begun.

March 1, 2002 - Updated structural condition evaluation completed.

April 2, 2002 - Referendum on whether the city of De Pere should rebuild or repair but retain a two-lane bridge on the existing site.

May 2002 - City of De Pere forms Ad-Hoc Bridge Planning Advisory Committee to work with and advise the Department of Transportation as WisDOT develops and revises the alternatives being considered for the replacement of the existing bridge.

January 27, 2004 - Draft environmental assessment completed. Document approved by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

June 13, 2005 - FHWA approves the Finding of No Significant Impact for the single four-lane bridge on new alignment alternative.

May 9, 2006 - Construction contract letting.

July 26, 2006 - Groundbreaking ceremony.

October 2007 - New bridge open to traffic.

March 2008 - Demolition of old bridge completed.

July 2008 - Project complete.

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Last modified: August 14, 2006