16th Street Bridge Closure Update

The 16th Street Bridge was closed to traffic on Thursday, December 5, after an in-depth inspection identified one floor beam showing signs of accelerated wear compared to surrounding bridge elements. DPW made the decision to close the entire structure to the traveling public.

The northern portion of the viaduct over the Menomonee River was already closed between Canal Street and Clybourn Street for an ongoing rehabilitation project of the section of the bridge over the Menomonee River. Other portions of the bridge are anticipated to undergo partial replacement or rehabilitation in the coming years as the City invests in maintaining this critical link to and over the Menomonee Valley. Due to the level of wear, this specific floor beam was determined to require immediate replacement.

Due to the time needed to fabricate the replacement beam and complete the installation, the bridge is expected to remain closed until April. The Department will continue to work diligently to reopen the structure and will provide updates if the timeline changes.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.