County G bridge project update provided
Clark County Highway Commissioner Brian Duell has provided an update on the status of the County Highway G bridge replacement project.
The bridge over the Black River on County Highway G (West Begley Street) in the city of Greenwood is reaching the end of its useful life. Clark County is working with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) to replace the bridge with a new structure.
“Since the public meeting held in 2021, the existing bridge was determined to be a historically significant structure,” wrote Duell in a July 20 press release. “Numerous alternatives were developed to avoid removal of the existing bridge and still meet project purpose and need.”
The alternatives were: 1. No build; 2. Structure rehabilitation for vehicular use while maintaining historic integrity; 3. Structure rehabilitation for bicycle and pedestrian use while maintaining historic integrity; 4. New bridge at Hunt Street, which avoids demolition of the existing bridge; 5. New bridge at Miller Street, which avoids demolition of the existing bridge; 6. New bridge on existing alignment; 7. New adjacent bridge to the south, which avoids demolition of the existing bridge; and 8. New bridge adjacent to the north, which avoids demolition of the existing bridge. “Following extensive evaluation of the impacts, benefits, and costs of these alternatives, Alternative 6 has been selected as the preferred alternative,” wrote Duell.
The existing structure will be removed and a new bridge will be constructed at the same location. The other alternatives either did not adequately meet the project purpose and need, or generated significant adverse impacts to the natural environment and private property.
In March, the county and WisDOT conducted a consultation meeting with local representatives, historical organizations and adjacent property owners to discuss options for mitigating the loss of the historic bridge. The following actions were agreed upon: 1.The City of Greenwood’s Branstiter Museum will be given an opportunity to select and move to its property a salvaged piece of the historic bridge. 2. A three- or four-panel display will be prepared for interior exhibition, chronicling Clark County bridges that crossed the Black River. 3. Bridge-related material will be prepared and formatted for presentation on the websites of both the City of Greenwood and the Clark County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC). 4. Copies of the Determination of Eligibility for Listing on the National Register of Historic Places completed for the bridge, along with up to six photographs, will be donated to the Clark County Historical Society, CCEDC, Clark County Jail Museum, the City of Greenwood and the Branstiter Museum. 5.The bridge will be listed for sale prior to demolition, in an effort to find a new home for one or both of the structure’s two spans.
For details on these alternatives and their evaluation, visit the Clark County Highway Department website, which features updated information about the project: clarkcountywi.gov/highwayprojects.
The bridge replacement is scheduled for the 2025 construction season. In the meantime, a 20-ton restrictive load posting has been placed on the bridge.
