May 14, 2024

By Lane Kimble

PORTAGE, Wis. — It’s pretty tough to get millions of vehicles and billions of dollars in freight across the state without crossing the Wisconsin River.  Work to make sure that stays possible along a key stretch of Interstate begins this year.

Monday, WisDOT and Senator Tammy Baldwin held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Wisconsin River Bridge along I-39/90/94 in Columbia County.

The $135 million project will replace what’s technically two bridges and reconstruct the Interstate along an approximate 1.5-mile stretch in both directions. An $80 million federal grant will help pay for the work.

“Replacing these bridges will help ensure that billions of dollars worth of products can get to market efficiently.  This means that mom and pop shops will have products on their shelves the next day.  This means that families traveling for their summer vacation can get to their destination on time and safely,” Senator Baldwin said during a news conference at the site.

According to WisDOT, the bridge carries more than 90,000 vehicles a day during the summer and more than $100 billion in goods cross it every year.

Construction should be done in 2027.