(Watertown) The Watertown mayor says an earmark in the last biannual budget helped move up a much-needed bridge project in the city. The city’s Main Street Bridge on Highway 19, that goes over the Rock River, was originally built in 1931. Mayor Emily McFarland called it (quote) “a miracle” they were able to receive a $2-million-dollar allocation to address the aging structure.
“It allowed us to get a bridge that was crumbling…quite literally…moved up,” says McFarland. “We were slated for replacement about two years from now and we just were not going to make it there. And I just could not risk our downtown being cutoff for that period of time for our business owners.”
The project – which is being helmed by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation – includes a new bridge structure, new concrete approach slabs, new lighting as well as asphalt pavement and concrete sidewalks. McFarland says despite construction challenges, work is progressing on schedule.
“It presented many challenges…I hypothesize our bridge will be a case study in presentations across DOT-land for years to come…because it certainly had [some] tremendous challenges,” says MacFarland. “But really grateful we’re on track.”
McFarland says the DOT’s goal is to have the bridge reconstructed and opened to the public by the end of November.
–Photo courtesy of the City of Watertown Facebook page
