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Watertown council hears bridge replacement update; April completion date unchanged, deck pour set for late March
Summary
City staff told the Watertown Common Council on March 4 that replacement arches for the downtown bridge will be delivered and installed in early March, deck forming will follow and the concrete pour is scheduled for late March; the project team and WSDOT say the projected April completion remains unchanged.
Watertown Common Council received an update March 4 on the downtown bridge replacement project, including delivery dates for replacement arches, decking work and a scheduled concrete pour in late March, city staff said.
The update came during the council’s regular March 4 meeting when Andrew, a public works staff member, reviewed the latest information from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the contractor about arch fabrication, delivery and deck work. "On Friday, March 7, the first 2 replacement arches will arrive on-site and be set into place," Andrew said. He outlined a sequence of work: positioning the arches, resetting the fascia girder, completing spandrel work and forming the deck in sections, with a second set of replacement arches delivered and installed the following week.
The project team, Andrew said, reported that the contractor will handle all traffic control during arch delivery. "Per WSDOT, the contractor will be handling all traffic control during arch delivery, and deck concrete pour is currently scheduled for late March," he said. Council members pressed for clarification about how the deck pour affects when the bridge can carry traffic. A council member asked, "Is the … concrete pour … the point where we'll potentially there's like a clock going in terms of load bearing on the bridge?"
Andrew replied, "Once the deck is poured, it'll have to cure. And once the concrete gets to an appropriate strength, then traffic can continue over it. But, there's a clock associated with back curing time." He also noted that curing time varies with temperature.
Council members asked about earlier fabrication issues. Andrew said the project team measured as‑built members and railings and confirmed that previously delivered arches were incorrect and have been removed. "So last time we talked to you, they were ascertaining what could be refurbished potentially, then result of that was 0. So every spandrel, both the arches were all were refabricated," he said, adding that the team has been tracking progress and that the most recently communicated completion date in April remains unchanged.
The city said it will continue to provide updates as work continues.
