Select Page

Repairs Underway on Main Street Bridge in Oshkosh

Oct 27, 2025

The situation?
The Main Street Bridge (U.S. Highway 45) in Oshkosh is a key crossing over the Fox River that has deteriorated over time and requires extensive rehabilitation. The bridge’s structural, mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical components have reached the end of their useful life, and work must be done on them to preserve their operation, improve safety, extend their service life, and ensure the region’s economic vitality.

What is the project, and how does it benefit the community?
The project includes major repairs to the lift span’s electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic systems, replacement of the steel grid deck on the moveable span, concrete deck overlay on fixed spans, and minor repairs to operator facilities.

These improvements will:

  • Extend the bridge’s operational lifespan to ensure safe and reliable vehicle and pedestrian crossings.
  • Improve the functioning of the movable lift spans for river traffic.
  • Decrease ongoing maintenance costs to reduce future disruptions.
  • Maintain local and emergency access via planned vehicle and pedestrian detours.

The project will extend the bridge’s service life for decades, improve safety for vehicles and pedestrians, and ensure reliable operation for river navigation. Additionally, bridge repairs will reduce traffic delays and enhance connectivity between downtown Oshkosh and the Sawdust District, supporting residents, businesses, and emergency services and improving regional transportation reliability.

What makes the investment possible?
The $6 million comprehensive rehabilitation project is funded through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s capital improvement program. WisDOT’s coordinated efforts include support programs to assist local businesses and residents impacted by construction. The investment ensures the community’s infrastructure can safely and effectively serve current and future transportation needs.

What’s the status?
Work on the bridge started in early September, and reconstruction is planned to continue through the spring of 2026. Detour routes are in place for vehicles and pedestrians to ensure continued connectivity. The bridge’s moveable lift spans closed in mid-October 2025, prohibiting masted vessels from passing under the bridge until project completion. However, smaller, unmasted vessels can still pass beneath the non-lift sections.