Caledonia Argus

Cass Street Bridge likely to close for a day next week

Posted: 12/10/03

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) and its contractor, Lunda Construction Company, will ìfloatî the arch section of the new Mississippi River bridge into place during the week of December 15.

The exact date is not known, and will be subject to the weather.

While the float is underway, the Mississippi River bridge at Cass Street will be closed to all vehicular, bicycle, and foot traffic. The closure will begin at 9 a.m., and travelers will be detoured to the Mississippi River bridge at Interstate 90.

Changeable message boards in both Wisconsin and Minnesota will keep drivers updated on the status of the Cass Street structure. The current ìNo Wake Zoneî on the Mississippi River near the bridge project will also be closed. The current bridge on US 14/61/WIS 16 will be closed on that day. In case of inclement weather, the float will be delayed The arch section will be floated from its current position near the west bank of the Mississippi River and placed on permanent bridge piers spanning the waterway's main navigational channel. The move will begin at approximately 6 a.m. and will likely take as long as 12 hours to complete. For safety reasons, access to the Mississippi River bridge construction zone will be restricted in many areas. Persons who want to see the float in person are encouraged to use the following viewing areas: Houska Park, Pettibone Park (north of the bath house), and the south end of Riverside Park (away from the Rotary Lights display). The arch section is 475 feet long, 50 feet wide, 87 feet high, and is comprised of 2.8 million pounds of steel. The structure includes more than 28,000 field bolts. The Mississippi River bridge project will cost an estimated $40 million and creates a four-lane crossing of the Mississippi River in downtown La Crosse. The work is slated to be complete in November of 2004.

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