By Kim McDarison
Workers from Waukesha-based Zenith Tech were packing up equipment and applying finishing touches to the Robert Street bridge Wednesday afternoon.
A few lines were left to be painted on the deck, an activity that remained underway as city officials, along with members of the extended community, gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5 p.m., officially declaring construction on the bridge completed.
City officials had recently announced that the bridge would be open in time for the first day of school for students within the School District of Fort Atkinson. The first day of school for most of the district’s students is Thursday.
According to information recently released by the city, the bridge will officially open Thursday, Sept. 1, at 4 a.m.
At the same time, the release stated, Main Street will be reopened and returned to its pre-project conditions with two lanes of traffic and parking along the curbs.
A story with information earlier released by the city is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/robert-street-bridge-to-open-sept-1/.
Photos taken Wednesday afternoon as work completed and of the ribbon-cutting ceremony follow.
Members of the extended community, including Fort Atkinson City Council President Chris Scherer, from left, Fort Atkinson Director of Parks and Recreation Brooke Franseen, State Sen. Steve Nass, Zenith Tech Superintendent of the Bridge Project Steven Firari, Water Superintendent Jeff Armstrong, Republican candidate for the 33rd Assembly District Scott Johnson, City Councilman Mason Becker, Zenith Tech engineer Ryan Bainkowski, Fort Atkinson City Manager Rebecca Houseman LeMire, City of Fort Atkinson Director of Public Works Andy Selle, State Rep. Don Vruwink, Parks and Recreation Program Administrative Assistant Brad Friese, project engineer with Westbrook and Associates Alex Bromley, School District of Fort Atkinson Superintendent Rob Abbott, Fort Atkinson City Councilwoman Megan Hartwick and Zenith Tech Project Manager David Burt, gather on the Robert Street Bridge. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Wednesday, declaring construction completed. (This information has been updated.)
Fort Atkinson City Manager Rebecca Houseman LeMire holds the ribbon as the city’s Director of Public Works Andy Selle, armed with the ceremonial scissors, prepares to cut the ribbon. City Council President Chris Scherer stands in anticipation of the moment, which marked on Wednesday the official conclusion to construction work performed on the Robert Street bridge. The bridge will officially open to traffic Thursday, Sept. 1, at 4 a.m.
A Zenith Tech employee packs up equipment as the construction company prepares to leave the project.
David Czech, an employee with Brickline, a company subcontracted through Zenith Tech, sprinkles a drying agent on freshly painted lines on the new bridge deck. The lines were among finishing touches applied Wednesday evening as the ribbon-cutting ceremony commenced.
A Zenith Tech employee shovels loose matter from the Robert Street bridge’s newly constructed deck.
Kim McDarison photos.
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