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Michigan Street Bridge study purpose

In the early 1990s, two objectives prompted the study:

• The age and condition of the Michigan Street Bridge required that WisDOT consider ways to ensure a dependable downtown crossing of Sturgeon Bay. 
• The city of Sturgeon Bay started planning for the redevelopment of the downtown waterfront area to help strengthen their downtown business community. 

The study identified how best to:

• Provide a functional, reliable downtown transportation link across Sturgeon Bay.
• Serve present and future bicycle, pedestrian, vehicular and marine traffic needs.
• Provide a facility compatible with existing and future downtown Sturgeon Bay comprehensive planning.

Initial WisDOT efforts focused on where a new bridge could be located along the existing Michigan Street corridor while minimizing any detour or downtime for the area's businesses. 

WisDOT received considerable input from residents and local businesses about the inconvenience and potential lost business revenue caused by detours and the need to have a structure with enough traffic lanes to handle the anticipated growth in traffic. 

Local, state and national groups also raised concerns about the landmark features and historical significance of the existing Michigan Street Bridge.

As a result of local input and concerns, WisDOT expanded the study to include crossings located in the Maple Street to Oregon Street corridor. The information obtained from the various project studies is summarized in the project's Environmental Document.

Questions about the content of this page:
Northeast Transportation Region, greenbay.dtd@dot.state.wi.us
Last modified: July 29, 2005