Sturgeon Bay bridge projects, history

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Sturgeon Bay bridge projects - history

Project development

The historic Michigan Street bridge in Sturgeon Bay was built in 1930. It has been described as one of the busiest bridges in the state for number of daily bridge openings. Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) has been maintaining this bridge since 1930.

Ongoing meetings had been occurring with local, county and national public officials and organizations since 1994 to determine solutions for the aging span. In 1995, WisDOT officials met with the city of Sturgeon Bay to present the department's position on a proposed replacement of the aging bridge.

In 1996, environmental document preparation and design work for this project began. Later that year, WisDOT notified the city that it would continue to own and maintain the bridge upon completion of the project.

In 1997, WisDOT coordinated efforts with Native American tribes and also held a public information meeting (PIM) in Sturgeon Bay. Public forums followed in 1998, 2000 and 2001.

In 1999, WisDOT met with the Sturgeon Bay City Council to present alternate concepts on the existing corridor.

At the city's request, WisDOT began an extensive study of the Maple/Oregon corridor in 2000 to examine the possibility of rehabilitating the existing bridge or replacing it entirely. Roundtable discussions were held with key opinion leaders in 2000 and 2001.

The project's environmental assessment (EA) was approved in November 2001 and a public hearing was held on December 11, 2001. The public comment period for the EA ended January 4, 2002.

On March 7, 2002, WisDOT announced its decision to rehabilitate the existing bridge.

In summer 2005, the Governor announced that the state would fund and maintain ownership of a new bridge crossing Sturgeon Bay.

The 2005 Budget Bill (2005 Wisconsin Act 25) directed WisDOT to begin construction of a new bridge in the Maple to Oregon Street corridor. The law further directed WisDOT to begin construction within one year of the signing of the budget bill (July 25, 2005).

Under provisions of this Act, Door County is to contribute $1.5 million toward construction. The city is responsible for acquiring any right of way and for designing and constructing the approaches to the bridge.

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Project development

Since the signing of the Wisconsin Budget Bill in July 2005, the following activities have occurred:

June 28, 2007 - The Joseph L. Block became the first Lake Carrier to transit the new Maple-Oregon bridge channel (see photo below). The new channel lines up with the existing Michigan Street bridge to allow easy navigation for vessels through the present Michigan Street bridge and the future Maple-Oregon bridge.

May 29, 2007 - WisDOT Northeast Region Director Mike Berg's letter to the editor updating the public on the Maple-Oregon bridge construction and Michigan Street bridge rehabilitation plans.
February 2, 2006 - Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) approved.
January 25, 2006 - FONSI submitted for review.
January 19, 2006 - Federal Highway Administration agrees with the bridge cross section.
January 12, 2006 - Air quality conformity analysis submitted to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WisDNR) rules that an air pollution control permit is not required for the project.
December 29, 2005 - WisDNR agrees with air conformity determination.
December 11, 2005 to January 11, 2006 - Draft air quality analysis available for public display.
November 17, 2005 - PIM held at Sturgeon Bay High School regarding the new bridge.
October 12, 2005 - Consulting meeting conducted to determine potential effects of the Maple to Oregon Street bridge on historical properties.
September 2005 - Sturgeon Bay watercraft height survey conducted to determine the most cost effective bridge clearance.

WisDOT has completed the dredging plan for the shipping channel. Since a large lake carrier will now be passing under both bridges simultaneously during transit, the Lake Carriers Association requested considerable modifications to the channel. These modifications will allow large lake vessels to align themselves with the channel prior to entering the Maple to Oregon Street bridge and then have straight transit through the two bridges.

WisDOT held a public information meeting on March 21, 2006 concerning the dredging plan. The project was let May 9, 2006 and completed in October 2006.

The U.S. Coast Guard issued WisDOT a permit to begin construction upon the completion of dredging. WisDOT considered the beginning of dredging to be the beginning of construction.

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Michigan Street Bridge.