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Fond du Lac council hears timeline for lake bridge removal, parking and playground work
Summary
City staff told the council the Grama bridge will be removed beginning June 16, with dredging and a pavilion parking-lot repave to follow; playground ribbon cuttings and multiple resurfacing projects were also scheduled for summer.
Public Works Director Paul De Vries told the Fond du Lac City Council on May 28 that work on a state-managed bridge and several park projects will begin this summer, with bridge removal starting the week of June 16 and the main bridge scheduled for completion in October.
The update, delivered during the council's presentation period, covered bridge demolition and dredging, resurfacing of courts and trails, pavilion parking-lot reconstruction and multiple playground projects. De Vries said the city will take the opportunity during bridge work to dredge the area to improve boating access and move the pavilion access point slightly to gain additional parking stalls.
De Vries said, "So we've been talking about this Grama Bridal for a number of years now. Being one of those DOT projects, it takes five years or so to actually get to construction. That project, we have a contractor, and they will be starting the week after weekend. So on the June 16, the road will be shut down. Bridge will start to be removed." He added that the pedestrian bridge from Oven to Foulton Island is finished and open, though landscaping is still establishing.
Why it matters: the bridge work will close a portion of the loop road by the lake and change traffic and pedestrian patterns during summer events and daily recreation. De Vries said the pavilion parking lot will be reconstructed in July and August while bridge activity is concentrated nearby.
Most important details: De Vries said the main bridge is expected to be done by October. While the bridge is removed, the city will perform dredging to help boating access. The pavilion parking lot will be repaved, receive new curb and gutter and several additional stalls; the access point will be moved farther from the bridge to keep in/out circulation similar while increasing capacity.
De Vries also described playground work and openings: ribbon cuttings are set for Tuesday, June 17, at 10 a.m. for playgrounds at Buttermilk Creek Park and Russell Park; Lakeside Park will see two older playgrounds replaced by one larger structure sometime this year, possibly stretching into fall. He credited a partnership with Burke for playground designs and said a community group's "Path To Play" signs direct visitors between the children's museum and nearby playgrounds.
Resurfacing projects listed included basketball-court work at Taylor Park and McKinley Park (out for bid), resurfacing of Buttermilk Creek tennis courts (contractor on board) and a Taylor Park trail resurfacing. De Vries said the gazebo at Camelot Pond has already been blasted and repainted and received landscaping.
Council members praised the parks work and asked clarifying questions. Alderman Mullen praised Burke as a partner; Alderman Schisler asked the location of the Lakeside replacement and De Vries clarified it lies between the splash pad and Main Street.
There were no formal motions or votes tied to the update; the presentation was informational. De Vries invited questions and said staff will provide schedules and media notices as construction and ribbon-cutting dates firm up.
Looking ahead: the council will receive event and closure notices tied to bridge work and other park construction as timelines and contractor schedules are finalized.
