Wisconsin Street bridge project

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The city of Oshkosh's Wisconsin Street (WIS 44) bridge serves one of the busiest waterways in the state of Wisconsin.

In September 2006, construction began on a new Wisconsin Street span over the Fox River. The new bridge will be a double-leaf rolling lift bascule bridge 672 feet in length. It will consist of a four-lane roadway with accommodations for pedestrians and bicycles. In the closed position, it will provide 11.6 feet of vertical clearance to ordinary high water, and 83 feet clear between the bascule piers. The cost of construction for the new bridge is $18.5 million.

Concrete slab spans on each end of the bridge will provide easy access to parks and trails for pedestrians and bicyclists below the bridge. The bridge will also have decorative concrete and lighting, and pedestrian overlook areas.

Artist rendering of new Wisconsin Street bridge, under-bridge passageways.

Artist rendering of new Wisconsin Street bridge, four-lane roadway with sidewalks and bike lanes.

The new bridge will be constructed 85 feet north of the existing structure. For convenience to local residents, businesses, and emergency services, the current bridge will remain open during most of the construction of the new bridge. After the new span is complete, the existing bridge will be removed.

Two intersections will be reconstructed as part of this project:

Wisconsin Street/Ohio Street/Witzel Avenue intersection on the west side of the river. Wisconsin Street will be expanded to two travel lanes in each direction and have turn lanes expanded with islands to handle future traffic volumes.
Wisconsin Street and Pearl Avenue on the east side of the river. Turn lanes will be provided on Wisconsin Street along with two travel lanes in each direction to handle future traffic volumes.

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Artist rendering of new Wisconsin Street bridge.