The opportunity and the challenge?
Two Columbia County bridges that span the Wisconsin River are nearing the end of their operational life and need to be replaced. Constructed in 1961, these bridges are on I-39/90/94, an important corridor for commercial transport and recreational travelers.

How does the “fix” benefit the community?
Reconstruction of the existing I-39/90/94 Wisconsin River bridges will, in conjunction with the larger I-39/90/94 project between Madison and the Dells, improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of people and freight. The route connects important economic hubs, including Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago, with trucks making up approximately 23% of current bridge traffic. The corridor is also a connector to major tourism destinations, including the Wisconsin Dells.

What makes the investment possible?
The project’s cost is approximately $151 million, with $80 million from a federal discretionary INFRA grant. INFRA (the Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects program) is a highly competitive initiative that awards grants for multimodal freight and highway projects of national or regional significance. This competitive nature underscores the importance of the projects it supports, which aim to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of freight and people in and across rural and urban areas.

What’s next?
Construction commenced in the spring of 2024, with project completion scheduled for the fall of 2027.