Fort Atkinson City Manager Rebecca Houseman LeMire has announced that the Robert Street Bridge project is nearly complete and is scheduled to open Sept. 1.
According to a recent news release, the completion of the Robert Street Bridge reconstruction project, originally scheduled to be finished by Aug. 27, has been delayed a few days. The bridge will open by Sept. 1 at 4 a.m. in time for the first day of school for the School District of Fort Atkinson.
At the same time the bridge opens, Main Street will be reopened and returned to its pre-project conditions with two lanes of traffic and parking along the curbs. This deadline is dependent on weather between now and Sept. 1, the release stated.
The completion delay occurred due to the bridge deck being thicker than anticipated, requiring an additional three days for removal, the release continued.
“The project has gone incredibly smooth. A job well done by Zenith Tech and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation management team, with a very aggressive schedule. Mother nature helped quite a bit as well. Our goal was to be open for Fort Atkinson’s heaviest use period, which is the beginning of school and with a little luck, I think we’ll make it,” Andy Selle, director of Public Works, was quoted as saying in the release.
Additionally, the release noted two other elements of the bridge reconstruction that are delayed. They are the new signal poles on the north side of the bridge, which are delayed due to painting. The temporary signals in place now will remain, allowing traffic and pedestrians to utilize the bridge, with the dedicated turn lane, and separated sidewalk as designed, the release stated.
A second component that is delayed is the decorative lights on the bridge, which have not yet arrived.
According to the release, local contractor Red Arrow Electric is the subcontractor and has been keeping a close watch on these anticipated material delays since the project began.
Within the release, Selle indicated that owner Dan Evenson ordered the materials in the spring, within a few hours of the contract being signed.
He indicated in the release that supply chain delays in today’s market are not unusual.
Two photos above: Construction on the Robert Street Bridge nears completion. According to city officials, the bridge will open on Sept. 1 at 4 a.m. Chris Spangler photos.
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