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Sawyer County approves $85,000 purchase of temporary bridge for Town of Winter to restore forest access
Summary
The Public Works Committee approved buying a 14-by-60-foot temporary bridge from Pennsylvania for $85,000 to restore access to the county's largest forest block; transport and installation costs (about $55,000) are expected to be paid separately.
At its meeting, the Sawyer County Public Works Committee approved purchasing a temporary bridge for $85,000 to restore vehicle access to the Town of Winter and the county's largest county forest block.
The committee voted to purchase a two-section, 14-foot-by-60-foot steel structure located in Pennsylvania. The bridge is rated HL 93 (engineered for heavy loads), will be delivered with a new timber deck and is described in the project paperwork as suitable for one-lane traffic with a 14-foot clear lane. Transport and installation were estimated separately at about $55,000; the county official presenting the plan said the town is expected to cover that portion.
County staff emphasized the immediate economic rationale: long-term closure of the Thornapple-grade bridge has restricted access to a major county forest block that supplies a substantial share of annual stumpage sales. "This is primarily about restoring access to that forest block so sales and recreational access can continue," said the Forest Administrator (unnamed in the transcript). The presentation said surplus forestry revenue from the prior year would pay the $85,000 purchase price.
Highway staff described the bridge as well maintained, with a timber deck life of about five to 10 years and no required DNR stream permits because the work does not involve in-stream construction. The committee was told the bridge will require an initial WisDOT inspection after installation and then inspections every two years.
Motion and vote: The motion to approve the $85,000 purchase was made by Mr. Newman and seconded by Mr. Helwig; the proposal carried by voice vote with no roll-call tally recorded.
Committee members discussed future options for the structure after a permanent replacement is built, including storing, selling, renting to other jurisdictions or reusing it at other forest locations.
The committee approved the purchase by voice vote and directed follow-up coordination with the town on transport and installation arrangements.
