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Artist's Concept of the New Bridge:
Please note that these conceptual drawings are not from the Michigan or Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation or the builder, but were presented by proponents of the bike paths (which were ultimately included in the design of the new bridge).
Overhead View - (From the top-side of the bridge picture): Handrails and Bishop's Hook Arm style Lights, 7-ft.-wide sidewalk (white area), (curbing drops down to roadway) 5-ft.-wide bicycle lane, 4 - 12-ft.-wide traffic lanes, bicycle lane, sidewalk and handrails with lights
Bridge-level view looking south toward Marinette - The sidewalks and bike paths are clearly seen in this picture
This page will be up-dated throughout the 13-month project to remove and rebuild a Menominee, MI - Marinette, WI landmark. Check back often... -
(Click on the Date next to a description below to see the photo)
This photo gallery will be presented (mostly) in chronological order - if a newer photo defines the action in an older one, I will place them near each other no matter the dates.
Please note that the descriptions used to describe the photos below are strictly from my observation. Hopefully all (or at least most) of the descriptions are accurate.
If you see an incorrect description for a photo and can send the correct information, PLEASE Send me an e-mail. - Thank You!
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The Interstate Bridge (US-41), which spans the Menominee River and connects Menominee, MI and Marinette, WI, is scheduled to be demolished (and rebuilt) beginning in early November 2004. Actually, there are two bridges to be replaced: The small bridge to the south, which connects Marinette, WI with Stephenson Island, and the main bridge to the north, which connects Menominee, MI with Stephenson Island. The small bridge connecting Marinette, WI with Stephenson Island will be rebuilt first, as it must be open for public access to Stephenson Island by April 2005. That means that a temporary bridge will be built up-river from the current bridge to handle traffic to and from the construction work on the main span.
Debris from the demolition of the main bridge will be caught by barges placed under the spans as they are demolished. Once the deck is removed, coffer dams will be built around each of the bridge's 11 concrete support piers and they will also be removed. Once the bridge is completely removed, work will begin on constructing 5 all new support piers and then on the bridge itself. Work is scheduled to take (approx.) 13 months.
First ... A little history of the current structure: (Information from Michigan Dept. of Transportation)
Plans for a new bridge between Menominee, MI and Marinette, WI were finally agreed upon by the two towns and the two states in December 1927. The contract for its construction was awarded to G.R. Meyer and Sons of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Work was completed on the bridge in December 1929 at a total cost of about $700,000. The main span of the bridge (as originally constructed) was 850-ft. long and 55-ft. wide. The bridge was renovated in 1970, which widened the deck and added new aluminum "tube-type" guardrails to replace the older ones. For some interesting facts regarding the bridges that preceded the current one, and the struggles between the two towns to come to agreement on the plans and location of the current bridge - Click Here...
The estimated cost of the two new bridges is $6.1 million dollars, and the project is scheduled for completion By Dec. 1, 2005.
Specs For The New Bridge: (Information courtesy of Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation)
The Interstate Bridge is planned to be completed by December 2005 along with the adjacent US 41 roadway work in Marinette and along the Menominee, MI causeway. The new bridge will be 72' wide from rail to rail. The new bridge will have four-12' lanes with 7-foot sidewalks along both sides. In addition, 5-foot wide bike lanes will be provided on the new bridge. The bridge length is about 870'.
The new bridge will have decorative street lighting which is consistent with the new lighting planned through downtown Marinette for the reconstruction of US 41. The new lighting will be a Bishop's Hook Arm style. The luminaries and poles will be black. Additionally, the concrete parapet rails will have a wild rice architectural treatment and will be within the view of motorists and pedestrians on the bridge. The treatment was selected by the city of Marinette in honor of the Menominee Native American history in the area. There will be a decorative black railing placed on top of the concrete parapet rail for safety purposes and to further accent the aesthetics of the bridge. The concrete bridge will have staining along the front and back faces of the concrete parapet railing as well as along the exterior side of the underside, outside concrete girders.
And Now ... The Photos:
Nov. 1 - Here is a photo of the bridge on a dark, cloudy Nov. 1 before demolition began. Equipment is being put in place for the demolition stage.
Nov. 1 - Close-up of spud-barge to be used as bridge is dismantled.
Nov. 3 - This is the main span of the bridge. It will be completely removed (including the support piers).
Nov. 3 - Demolition has already begun. A section of the concrete railing is already demolished.
Nov. 3 - A view of the bridge from the down-river side
Nov. 3 - Wide view of the bridge and some of the cranes and barges used for the project
Nov. 3 - Another view of the bridge and equipment
Nov. 3 - A sort of jack hammer device mounted on the end of a backhoe demolishes part of the concrete railing of the bridge. The barge below it catches the debris.
Nov. 3 - One of the barges holds a huge crane.
Nov. 3 - Another barge catches the debris from above.
Nov. 3 - Yet another barge catches debris on the up-river side of the bridge.
Nov. 3 - This smaller bridge will also need to be demolished and rebuilt. Note the intricate design of the safety rails on the bridge's sides; this design was used for the entire length of BOTH bridges as originally built in 1929. When the main bridge was upgraded in 1970, these rails were demolished and new ones with a different design were built in their place. Interestingly, this (small) bridge connects the "mainland" to Stephenson Island and from there a roadway through the island connects to the main (larger) bridge; yet this smaller bridge is scheduled to be removed almost immediately as it needs to be rebuilt and ready for traffic access to the Island in April 2005, which is long before the main bridge will be completed. A temporary bridge will need to be constructed (to replace the small bridge) for the heavy equipment to move freely to and from the main bridge project.
Nov. 6 - One of the first projects was to build this access road from the bridge level down on to the east side of Stephenson Island. Access to this part of the island was previously gained by driving to the west side of the island and then under the bridge (see next photo).
Nov. 7 - The east side of Stephenson Island used to be accessed by passing under the bridge.
Nov. 6 - The sidewalk and railing are completely gone from the east side of the bridge.
Nov. 6 - Here is a bridge-level shot looking north from Marinette, WI toward Menominee, MI.
Nov. 6 - The sidewalk on the west side of the bridge is also gone.
Nov. 6 - A view from below the bridge of some of the barges used for the project.
Nov. 6 - This small tug is used to push the barges!
Nov. 6 - A view looking south from the Menominee, MI side of the project from atop the bridge over the railroad tracks
Nov. 6 - The same view slightly over-exposed to bring in more light
Nov. 6 - Demolition of the small bridge on the Marinette, WI side has not yet begun. Many cranes are being used for the project.
Nov. 7 - A view from the west side of the bridge looking slightly east from atop the bridge over the railroad tracks
Nov. 7 - Same view from the east side looking slightly west
Nov. 7 - Wide view of the whole project from the Menominee side
Nov. 7 - A view from below bridge-level looking up at the beams that once carried the sidewalk
Nov. 8 - Work has begun on the temporary bridge that will replace the small bridge between Stephenson Island and Marinette proper. Here, the footings are laid and the center support is being erected in the middle of the river to the south of the island.
Nov. 8 - Removal of the main bridge deck has begun. Here you can see that part of the roadway has been removed.
Nov. 8 - Wide view of the project from the knoll atop Stephenson Island looking north
Nov. 8 - A view from up-river of the demolished section of the bridge. This span marks the approximate center of the bridge. Work will now be separated into two fields of action - that on the Michigan side and that on the Wisconsin side.
Nov. 8 - Wide view showing the demolished section
Nov. 9 - A section of the bridge is lifted onto a barge
Nov. 9 - A flock of geese in the foreground, a missing section of bridge in the background
Nov. 9 - Decking is laid for the temporary bridge at the south end of the project
Nov. 9 - A section of bridge is missing on the Michigan side
Nov. 9 - Here is the missing section on the Wisconsin side - notice that the section on the right is higher than the one on the left; that is because the roadway has been removed from the section on the left.
Nov. 9 - Wide view showing both gaps in the bridge - the middle section will need to be dismantled by the crane on the barge behind the bridge, as it is now an "island unto itself"
Nov. 11 - A huge crane lifts bridge supports onto a barge. Notice the gap on either side of the span in the middle of the photo.
Nov. 11 - Wide view of the demolished span on the Marinette side
Nov. 11 - Close-up of the end of the bridge on the Marinette side with a bridge support pier in the river. There are eleven of these piers which will need to be removed.
Nov. 11 - Close-up of the gap in the bridge on the Menominee side of the project
Nov. 11 - A view from the east side of Stephenson Island of the gap on the Marinette side
Nov. 11 - Work continues on the small temporary by-pass bridge which is almost ready for use
Nov. 11 - Wide view from up-river of the gaps in the bridge (the one on the Menominee side is difficult to see in this photo)
Nov. 11 - A view looking north from atop the knoll on Stephenson Island
Nov. 11 - Close-up of the gap on the Marinette side from atop the knoll (the smoke is from a crane on the opposite side of the bridge)
Nov. 11 - View of the new temporary bridge looking south from Stephenson Island (sorry for the glare, I was shooting directly into the sun)
Nov. 12 - A huge section of the dismantled bridge rests on a barge at Stephenson Island. The large box-like structure on the bridge above is a containment cell which will be placed in the river around one of the bridge piers. A coffer dam will then be built inside the containment cell so that the bridge pier may be removed. The cell will then be placed over another of the bridge piers and the process repeated.
Nov. 12 - More debris from the demolition rests on the east side of Stephenson Island
Nov. 12 - The entire center span of the bridge has been removed in this view from the east side of Stephenson Island
Nov. 12 - Bridge support piers now rest empty in the middle of the river
Nov. 12 - A view of the missing center span from atop the knoll on Stephenson Island
Nov. 12 - A wide view of the missing section from the west side of Stephenson Island (up-river)
Nov. 12 - Here's what is left on the Menominee, MI side of the project
Nov. 12 - Close-up of the missing center span
Nov. 12 - ...and what is left on the Marinette, WI side
Nov. 12 - A car passes over the now completed temporary bridge (again, please excuse the glare). (Only authorized vehicles are allowed on this new bridge)
Nov. 13 - This is all that is left of the bridge on the Menominee side of the river.
Nov. 13 - Wide view of the bridge from down-river
Nov. 13 - A view of the gap in the bridge from the east side of Stephenson Island
Nov. 13 - Here is the small bridge that will be demolished very soon.
Nov. 13 - Another view of the small bridge
Nov. 13 - A view of what is left of the Menominee side of the bridge from up-river
Nov. 13 - A view of the bridge project from the west end of Stephenson Island
Nov. 13 - Closer view of the gap from up-river
Nov. 13 - A view from atop the knoll on Stephenson Island
Nov. 13 - Close-up of the gap from atop the knoll
Nov. 13 - Pieces of the bridge and the large containment cell rest atop the south end of the main bridge
Nov. 14 - No work on Sunday, so it was a good day to get a little closer to the project. Here is a close-up from the bridge on the Menominee side.
Nov. 14 - A wider view from atop the bridge on the Menominee side
Nov. 14 - A bridge-level view from the Marinette side
Nov. 14 - Looking at the up-river side where the sidewalk was from the Marinette side
Nov. 14 - A view from underneath the upriver side of the bridge looking toward Menominee
Nov. 14 - A section of the bridge on the ground on the east side of Stephenson Island
Nov. 14 - The section of bridge that is on the barge at Stephenson Island
Nov. 14 - Crane with air hammer attachment used to break up concrete
Nov. 14 - Close-up of the air hammer attachment
Nov. 14 - One last view of the small bridge (up-river side looking south)
Nov. 15 - A crane prepares to lift off part of the bridge remaining on the Menominee side of the river; sections of that part of the bridge are visible on the barges below.
Nov. 15 - Close-up of the abutment on the Menominee side and empty piers from which the bridge sections have been removed
Nov. 16 - The bridge piers are the only remains of the bridge on the Menominee side of the river.
Nov. 16 - Wide view of empty bridge piers on Menominee side
Nov. 16 - The "Containment Cell" is already in place around pier #4 (from the Marinette side) and work has begun in demolishing the pier. The original plan was to dynamite the piers; however, the DNR would not allow this.
Nov. 16 - Work has begun on demolition of the small bridge. Since the river is too shallow to allow a barge to be placed under the bridge to catch falling debris, dumpsters were lowered into the river on both the up-river and down-river sides of the bridge.
Nov. 16 - Bridge-level view of the demolition project on the small bridge
Nov. 16 - Close-up of the work on the small bridge
Nov. 16 - View of the work on the small bridge from up-river looking south
Nov. 16 - The crane with the air hammer device is used to demolish the bridge piers. Here it rests on a barge next to the "Containment Cell" which encloses pier #4.
Nov. 16 - Debris from the demolition of the bridge piers is placed on the remains of the main bridge for disposal later
Nov. 16 - View of the bridge looking north from atop the knoll of Stephenson Island.
Nov. 16 - A truck filled with debris from the small bridge backs across the new temporary bridge
Nov. 17 - A huge beam is lifted from the roadway of the small bridge
Nov. 17 - Close-up of the beam being lifted and another which lies on its side at the southeast side of the small bridge
Nov. 17 - Wide view of (what is left of) the small bridge
Nov. 17 - A welder works on cutting up a bridge beam from the small bridge prior to removal from the roadway
Nov. 17 - Wide view of the main bridge shows that bridge pier #4 (from Marinette side) has already been removed and the Containment Cell has been placed over #5, where demolition has begun
Nov. 17 - A closer view from the top of the bridge shows work continuing on the removal of pier #5
Nov. 17 - Debris is loaded onto this truck for removal. The jumbled mass of twisted metal alongside the truck is the metal that surrounded the base of the bridge piers. If you look closely at the previous photo, you can see the metal banding around the horizontal base of the pier below the vertical pillars.
Nov. 18 - Pier #6 (from the Marinette side) is now being removed. This is the center pier.
Nov. 18 - The work of removal is now too far from the remnants of the Marinette side of the bridge, so the debris must be placed in barges for removal.
Nov. 18 - One beam remains to be removed from the small bridge.
Nov. 18 - Close-up of the burned off beam remnants on the north side of the small bridge
Nov. 18 - A worker toils at cutting off the remaining beam
Nov. 18 - A view of the single beam remaining looking south from Stephenson Island
Nov. 18 - A crane loads debris from the barge below to a truck on the Marinette side of the main bridge
Nov. 18 - Close-up of the bucket of the crane retrieving debris from the barge
Nov. 18 - The crane with the air hammer attachment takes a breather while the large crane hoist a load of debris from the Containment Cell/coffer dam of pier #6
Nov. 18 - The bucket of the large crane releases a load of debris into a waiting barge
Nov. 19 - The small bridge is gone, the dumpsters which were in the river have been removed, and this crane removes debris that fell in the river during demolition. This small branch of the Menominee River is very shallow (no more than one to two feet of water). The bridge in the background is the new temporary bridge mentioned previously.
Nov. 21 - Wide view from down-river. Four bridge support piers are now gone and work has begun on removing Pier #8 (from the Marinette side)
Nov. 21 - Close-up of the Menominee-side of the project. You can see that 4 piers are still standing (the fourth one being just to the right of the crane).
Nov. 21 - Looking north from the east side of Stephenson Island
Nov. 21 - Looking north from the west side of Stephenson Island
Nov. 21 - A view looking north (toward Menominee side of the project) from up-river (west side) on Stephenson Island
Nov. 21 - A look at the girders that support the bridge. There are five of these arch-type girders per span.
Nov. 21 - A workboat sits on the east side of Stephenson Island with numerous barges and a crane in the background (looking north)
Nov. 21 - A view of the area from which the small bridge was removed (temporary bridge visible in background)
Nov. 21 - No one was working today, so I could get some close-ups of the project. Here we are looking north from Marinette toward Stephenson Island where the small bridge has been removed.
Nov. 21 - A look at the south (Marinette) side of the burned-off girders of the small bridge
Nov. 21 - ...and the north (Stephenson Island) side of the burned-off girders
Nov. 21 - A view of the area of the small bridge looking south from Stephenson Island (sorry for the glare)
Nov. 21 - One more view of the area of the small bridge from the temporary bridge looking northeast
Nov. 21 - The Temporary By-Pass Bridge is now open (looking north)
Nov. 22 - Work has begun to remove the bridge abutments on the small bridge
Nov. 22 - Another view of the crane scraping pieces of the old roadway from the top of the deck of the small bridge
Nov. 22 - Meanwhile, demolition of Pier #8 (from Marinette side) is well underway
Nov. 22 - Just these three piers remain on the Menominee side of the project; the concrete abutment (on shore) will also need to be rebuilt
Nov. 23 - A tug and two workboats struggle to push a barge into position
Nov. 23 - A Containment Cell rests on a barge awaiting action
Nov. 23 - Meanwhile, a new Containment Cell is being constructed on the main bridge
Nov. 23 - This is all that is left of the small bridge abutment on the south side of Stephenson Island
Nov. 23 - Another view of the demolition of the abutment
Nov. 23 - The Containment Cell is in place over Pier #9 (from Marinette side) and demolition continues
Nov. 23 - A piece of the new Containment Cell is lifted from the main bridge deck
Nov. 23 - ...and ready to be fit in place
Nov. 24 - The bridge abutment of the small bridge on Stephenson Island is demolished above the level of the river
Nov. 24 - Wide view of the area of the small bridge
Nov. 24 - A wrecking ball is used to break up the abutment below the level of the river
Nov. 24 - The wrecking ball makes contact...
Nov. 24 - ...and...SPLASH!!!
Nov. 24 - One Containment Cell is in the river over Pier #10 (from the Marinette side) on the Menominee side of the project while another rests on a barge near the center of the river
Nov. 24 - A third Containment Cell (now finished) sits on the bridge. I am guessing that one or two of these cells will be placed in the river to commence building of new bridge piers, while the third cell will continue to be used as demolition continues on the 5 remaining (old) piers.
Nov. 25 - No photos today - HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
Nov. 26 - This is the retaining wall on the south (Marinette, WI) side of the small bridge
Nov. 26 - Another view of the retaining wall and containment booms in the river
Nov. 26 - A wrecking ball rests where the retaining wall on the north (Stephenson Island) side of the small bridge used to be. The wall has already been removed. This is what the area in the previous two photos will look like in the next few days
Nov. 28 - This Containment Cell is in place over Pier #11 (from the Marinette side - the first pier on the Menominee side); once this bridge pier is removed, the only demolition work left on the Menominee side will be the bridge abutment.
Nov. 28 - Looking right over the edge of the bridge abutment down into the river and Containment Cell on the Menominee side
Nov. 28 - Looking over the project from the Menominee side toward Marinette
Nov. 29 - Both bridge abutments where the small bridge used to be are about gone
Nov. 29 - The remnants of the bridge abutment on the south side of Stephenson Island (small bridge area) are scraped up
Nov. 29 - This pile of broken concrete and rock are all that remain of the abutment on the north side of Marinette (small bridge area)
Nov. 29 - A wrecking ball on the bucket of a crane is used to further break up the rubble on the Marinette side (small bridge area)
Nov. 29 - View from the west side of Stephenson Island looking at about the middle of the river toward the north (Menominee) - Note that all of the bridge piers are now gone from this area
Nov. 29 - Close-up of the bridge abutment on the Menominee side of the main bridge, which is all that remains to be removed from this part of the project (a mostly raised Containment Cell rests partially on shore beneath the abutment)
Nov. 30 - Dismantling of the remainder of the main span on the Marinette side has begun
Nov. 30 - A view of the abutment on the Menominee side from the east side of Stephenson Island
Nov. 30 - A load of girders from the deck of the bridge are lowered down onto the east side of Stephenson Island
Nov. 30 - Only the footings of the bridge abutment of the small bridge remain on the Marinette side
Nov. 30 - A chunk of roadway is removed from the deck of the Marinette side of the main span
Nov. 30 - The crane is positioned to lift a section of roadway
Nov. 30 - ... the lift begins
Nov. 30 - ... the lift continues
Nov. 30 - Wide view of the remains of the main span on the Marinette side from the west side of Stephenson Island
Nov. 30 - Another section of roadway is removed from the deck of the bridge
Nov. 30 - A wide view of the bridge project from the west side of Stephenson Island looking north
Dec. 1 - A pile driver with an auger inside a steel tube is used to drill holes for reinforcing rods which will later anchor the concrete footings of the new (permanent) replacement for the "small bridge". (Thanks to Clark and Jason for identifying this piece of equipment for me)
Dec. 1 - Close-up of the apparatus on the end of the crane in the previous photo
Dec. 1 - The roadway is quickly being removed from the remaining span on the Marinette (Stephenson Island) side
Dec. 1 - Close-up of the span with the roadway and girders removed
Dec. 1 - Close-up of the span from a little above bridge-level
Dec. 1 - View of the entire project from atop the knoll on Stephenson Island
Dec. 1 - There is activity in the middle of the river. Here a crane works doing something (I assume some sort of preparation for one of the new bridge support piers) inside the Containment Cell, which is lowered in the middle of the river
Dec. 3 - The roadway and girders gone, work now progresses on removing the arch supports from the north side of Stephenson Island
Dec. 3 - This is all that remains of the main bridge
Dec. 3 - Wide view of the remains of the bridge on Stephenson Island's northwest side
Dec. 3 - Close-up of one of the cement bridge support piers; there are three of these remaining to be removed once the arch supports of the bridge are lifted from them.
Dec. 4 - These are the footings for the new (small) bridge that the pile driver has been putting in place on the south side of Stephenson Island
Dec. 4 - Bridge-level view shows that the bridge is gone; only the three bridge piers need to be removed from the river bed
Dec. 4 - Cut up pieces of the bridge arch supports on the ground on the northwest side of Stephenson Island
Dec. 4 - Wide view of the missing main bridge from up-river on the west side of Stephenson Island
Dec. 4 - Two Containment Cells now rest on the river bed near the middle of the river; I assume that these are in place so that work can begin on building the new bridge piers
PLEASE NOTE - Now that the demolition of the old bridges is complete, the number of photos will fall off until construction begins on the new bridge. I will continue to check the project at least once per week throughout the coming winter, and will post photos of any new construction. Hope you continue to enjoy the project.
Dec. 15 - Work continues on building the footings for the small bridge on the south side of Stephenson Island
Dec. 15 - One of the old bridge piers is still standing (to the right of the red crane) as work continues on preparing the river bed for the footings for the new main span. There is nothing to see (yet) of the footings, but there is a string of barges almost spanning the river.
Dec. 29 - Work continues on building the bridge piers for the main span; however, not much can be seen above river-level
Dec. 29 - Forms are being erected for the (small bridge) abutment on the south end of Stephenson Island
Dec. 29 - Pilings are being driven for the (small bridge) abutment at the north side of Marinette
Dec. 29 - Wide view of the work on the abutments of the small bridge
Jan. 1, 2005 - Happy New Year! The concrete bridge abutment for the small bridge on the south side of Stephenson Island is now in place
Jan. 1, 2005 - Another view of the finished abutment and work on the abutment on the Marinette side
Jan. 1, 2005 - Looking over the abutment work toward Marinette's downtown
Jan. 1, 2005 - Work has begun on the abutment on the Menominee side of the project
Jan. 1, 2005 - A wide view of the main bridge project as cranes erect coffer dams in the river prior to building the new bridge piers
Jan. 7 - The concrete has been poured for the bridge abutment on the Marinette side of the small bridge
Jan. 7 - Wide view of the site of the small bridge shows both bridge abutments in place
Jan. 7 - This is the Menominee side of the main bridge project; note that one of the new bridge piers is taking shape
Jan. 7 - Close-up of work on the new bridge pier closest to the Menominee side of the project
Jan. 7 - Work has also begun on another bridge pier; this is the second one from the Menominee side of the project
Jan. 10 - A backhoe reaches for a load of rock while working on the small bridge (Stephenson Island side)
Jan. 10 - Backhoe heading down a fairly steep embankment with a load of rock (this must be a little freaky the first time you try it)
Jan. 10 - The load of rock is dumped between the river and the concrete abutment
Jan. 13 - Work continues on the (Marinette side of the) small bridge abutment
Jan. 13 - Another view of the Marinette abutment (notice that rock fill has been placed on the river side of the abutment)
Jan. 13 - Wide view of the small bridge project
Jan. 13 - This is the Stephenson Island (south) side of the main bridge project; The "pier" extending out from the island (between the cranes) is new
Jan. 13 - Looking from about mid-river north toward Menominee from Stephenson Island
Jan. 13 - View of the entire main span project from the knoll atop Stephenson Island looking north
Jan. 28 - Re-inforcing rods are partially driven for one of the new bridge piers for the main span
Jan. 28 - Wide view of the main span project (you can see that ice is a problem. The area of the river around the barges must be kept open so that equipment can be moved to and from shore)
Jan. 28 - Work continues on the small bridge pilings
Jan. 28 - A view from the Menominee side of the river shows that pilings are being driven on the north side of Stephenson Island (the south side of the main span)
Jan. 29 - Work has begun on the bridge piers for the main span; here is the beginning of the first (from the north end of Stephenson Island) pier
Jan. 29 - This is the beginning of the new third (middle) pier
Jan. 29 - This is the fourth pier
Jan. 29 - The fifth pier will go here (the Menominee side of the main span project); the new bridge abutment will go where the large pile of sand is
Jan. 29 - View of the main span project from the east side of Stephenson Island
Jan. 29 - Some of the piles of ice that must continually be broken up so that barges, tugs and equipment may move freely about the main span project
Jan. 29 - Close-up of the work on the first bridge pier from the east side of Stephenson Island
Jan. 29 - A look at the first bridge pier from the west side of Stephenson Island
Jan. 29 - Another view of the middle bridge pier
Jan. 29 - A view of the main span project from the west side of Stephenson Island
Jan. 29 - A view looking north from the existing roadway on Stephenson Island
Jan. 29 - A view looking south (toward Marinette) from Stephenson Island of the small bridge area
Jan. 31 - Longitudinal supports for the roadway of the small bridge were put in place today (bridge-level view looking north)
Jan. 31 - Another view of the supports
Jan. 31 - Looking across the new supports from west to east
Jan. 31 - Wide view of the small bridge area
Feb. 5 - Work continues on the bridge abutment for the small bridge (Marinette side)
Feb. 5 - Another view of the small bridge abutment work
Feb. 6 - A view of the small bridge abutment work looking east from the temporary by-pass bridge
Feb. 6 - Another abutment will be built on the north end (Stephenson Island side) of the small bridge
Feb. 6 - Reinforcements in the concrete bridge supports (or else some weird sort of croquet game) :O)
Feb. 6 - The bridge support pier on the Menominee side of the project is taking shape
Feb. 6 - ...So is the bridge support pier on the Stephenson Island side of the main bridge
Feb. 9 - Workers prepare the small bridge "deck"
Feb. 9 - Close-up of the east side of the small bridge shows that the bridge is wider than the causeway, which will need to be widened
Feb. 9 - Close-up of the decking on the small bridge
Feb. 10 - Concrete is being poured on the small bridge today in unseasonably warm weather. Here a concrete truck empties into a hopper
Feb. 10 - Close-up of truck just finishing emptying a load into the hopper
Feb. 10 - The hopper is attached to a cable on this crane, which moves the concrete to the bridge
Feb. 10 - Workers then move the hopper to the area where the concrete is to be poured; it appears that this concrete is forming the abutment on the Stephenson Island side of the small bridge
Feb. 10 - Workers places a tarp over the concrete abutment on the Stephenson Island side of the small bridge
Feb. 10 - The abutment has also been poured on the Marinette side of the small bridge
Feb. 10 - Another view of the concrete abutment on the Stephenson Island side of the small bridge
Feb. 12 - A look north across the small bridge showing how much the new bridge overhangs the current roadway
Feb. 12 - Wide view from the southeast side of the small bridge
Feb. 12 - A view looking east at the abutment work on the Marinette side of the small bridge
Feb. 12 - A view of the small bridge from down-river
Feb. 12 - The center bridge pier of the main span is really taking shape; note the concrete wall just to the rear of the yellow crane
Feb. 12 - A view of the area of the new bridge abutment (where the sand is) and the new pier on the Menominee side of the project (Pier #5)
Feb. 12 - (From left to right) An empty containment cell sits in the area of bridge pier #2, Bridge pier #1 (just to the left of the building), and the current concrete bridge abutment (the dark square area to the right of the crane)
Feb. 12 - Close-up of bridge pier #1 on the Marinette side
Feb. 16 - The center bridge pier of the main span is looking good
Feb. 18 - Another view of the center bridge pier
Feb. 18 - Bridge Pier #4 (from the Marinette side - second from the Menominee side) has now been poured
Feb. 18 - Bridge Pier #5 (from the Marinette Side - first on the Menominee side) is being readied
Feb. 19 - The abutment at the south end of the small bridge
Feb. 19 - The abutment at the north end of the small bridge (on Stephenson Island)
Feb. 19 - Looking northeast toward Menominee (the concrete pier is the center pier (of 5)
Feb. 19 - Looking north directly across the main span project from Stephenson Island
Feb. 19 - Water is pumped from the cofferdam surrounding what will be bridge pier #1 just north of Stephenson Island
Feb. 19 - Re-inforcing for a bridge pier or abutment(?)
Feb. 27 - Another bridge pier was unveiled this past week - number 4 (from the Marinette side)
Feb. 27 - Two bridge piers are now complete - number 3 (to the left) is the center pier and 4 (from the Marinette side)
Mar. 5 - A view of the entire main span project from up-river
Mar. 5 - The two completed bridge piers (#3 and #4 from the Marinette side)
Mar. 5 - Bridge pier #1 (on the left under black tarp) has now been poured
Mar. 5 - A view from the top of the bridge project looking north
Mar. 5 - This is what the small bridge looks like looking northeast
Mar. 5 - Bundles of re-inforcing rods lie in the foreground with the small bridge and the rest of the bridge project in the background
Mar. 12 - Footings for the bridge abutment are being erected on the Menominee side of the project
Mar. 12 - A look across the east side of the small bridge (looking north)
Mar. 12 - A look across the decking of the small bridge
Mar. 12 - A look across the west side of the small bridge
Mar. 12 - Bridge Pier #1 (from the Marinette side) is still under wraps
Mar. 12 - The footings for Bridge Pier #2 are in place
Mar. 12 - ...as are the footings for Bridge Pier #5
Mar. 12 - Another look at the abutment work on the Menominee side
Mar. 15 - Work progresses on the abutment on the Menominee side of the project
Mar. 15 - Re-inforcing rods are being put in place on the small bridge
Mar. 15 - Close-up of the re-inforcing rods laid on the small bridge
March 22 - Work continues on the bridge abutment on the Menominee side
March 22 - A worker positions a cement hopper on the abutment
March 23 - Wide view of the Menominee side on March 23 with the bridge abutment in place
March 23 - Also, Bridge Pier #4 (from the Marinette side) appears to be near completion
March 23 - Close-up of the Menominee-side bridge abutment (along with the first geese I have seen this year)
March 26 - A look at the Menominee side of the project out to the middle Bridge Pier (#3 from Marinette side)
March 26 - Bridge Pier #1 (from the Marinette side)
March 26 - This is the end of the roadway on the north side of Stephenson Island. There is now a big hole where the old bridge abutment once stood.
March 26 - Looking north across the project (Bridge Pier #1 in foreground0
March 26 - A different look across the project shows that Bridge Pier #2 (near the white crane) has yet to be built
March 26 - The work on the re-inforcing bars on the small bridge continues
March 26 - The laying of re-inforcing bars has not yet been completed (the area on the right of the photo is unfinished)
March 26 - The bridge abutment on the south end of Stephenson Island (small bridge area) is nearing completion
March 26 - This is the south end of the small bridge. The abutment is in place, but fill is needed.
March 27 - This is the bridge abutment on the Menominee side of the project
March 27 - An access road has been built down to river's edge on the east side of the Menominee side
March 29 - Concrete was poured on the small bridge this morning. The small bridge is scheduled to be open to traffic about the middle of April.
March 29 - Work needs to be done between the abutment and the embankment on the Marinette side of the small bridge
March 29 - There is also a gap on the Stephenson Island side of the small bridge that needs to be filled
March 29 - Wide view of the small bridge with concrete in place
April 2 - A view across the main span of the project looking north (that's my buddy, Wally in the foreground)
April 2 - Close-up of the abutment on the Menominee side shows that rip-rap is being put in place at its base
April 2 - Bridge Pier #2 (from the Marinette side) under construction
April 2 - Wide view of the Marinette side (out to the middle of the river) showing Bridge Piers 1 through 3
April 5 - Bridge Girders began arriving in Menominee on April 4 & 5. There will be a total of 60 of these girders with each being 158-ft. long and weighing 80 tons apiece. Here, 4 of the girders are already in place on the Menominee side of the project.
April 5 - Close-up of the abutment and girders on the Menominee side
April 5 - The other ends of the 4 girders
April 5 - Another view from the east side of Stephenson Island
April 5 - A closer look at the ends of the girders already in place
April 5 - Bridge Pier #2 (from the Marinette side) is almost ready now
April 5 - Bridge Pier #1 (from the Marinette side)
April 5 - A view across the main span project from the east side of Stephenson Island showing Bridge Pier 2 all the way to the abutment on the Menominee side
April 5 - The small bridge is being readied for opening (around April 15)
April 5 - A view along the east side of the small bridge shows the sidewalk being put in place
April 5 - The bridge isn't the only project ... the blacktop and most of the sidewalk have been removed from the front of the Elks Club
April 5 - Hall Avenue and Main Street are undergoing a change
April 5 - Hall Avenue is also torn up (looking south from Dunlap Square)
April 5 - Dunlap Square in front of the old Lauerman's building
April 5 - Another look at the area in front of the Elks Club. This area of the roadway will need to be widened to match the extra width of the new bridge.
April 6 - 9 Bridge Girders are now in place
April 6 - Close-up of the ends of the girders
April 7 - A truck backs a bridge girder down the new access road on the Menominee side of the main span project
April 7 - The special trailer on the back end of the beam
April 7 - Another bridge girder rest on the Menominee approach
April 7 - The red boom lies across two barges and the beams are placed there as they are moved out to the spans (see photo "April 7* down a little further)
April 7 - Two tugs push the barges
April 7 - Another view of the girder still on the truck
April 7 - All twelve girders are in place across the first span on the Menominee side.
April 7 - Work continues on the second bridge pier (from the Marinette side)
April 7 - Handrail walls have been added to the small bridge
April 7 - Close-up of the handrail wall on the east side of the small bridge
April 7* - A bridge girder rests on the red boom between two barges
April 8 - Two more bridge girders now cross the second span (from the Menominee side)
April 8 - Another view of the girders
April 8 - Close-up of the new girders from the west side of Stephenson Island
April 8 - A view across the main span looking north from atop Stephenson Island
April 8 - The small bridge is still blocked off, but taking shape.
April 10 - Wide view of the main span of the bridge project looking south from Menominee side
April 10 - Close-up of the new bridge girders resting on the abutment on the Menominee side
April 10 - Closer view of the new girders and their spacing
April 10 - Looking at the two western-most girders, you can see two of the girders in the next "row" are in place
April 10 - A river-level view of one of the new bridge girders
April 13 - Good Grief! 14 more Bridge Girders have been set in place in the last day and a half! They are almost halfway done with the girders ... 28 down and 32 more to go
April 13 - Close-up of the joining of two girders
April 13 - Close-up of the four newest girders resting on the center Bridge Pier.
April 14 - 8 more Bridge Girders have been put in place since yesterday
April 14 - Close-up of two of the end Bridge Girders (compare with next photo)
April 14 - Some sort of plate appears to have been placed between the junction of the girders and the top of the Bridge Pier
April 14 - A flatbed truck picks up the special trailer used to cart the Bridge Girders to the project
April 14 - Close-up of the Bridge Pier at the center of the Main Span
April 15 - Girders have now reached the fourth span
April 15 - A new Bridge Girder rests between two barges on its way to the fourth span (4th from the Menominee side)
April 15 - Another girder is backed to the river's edge
April 15 - Getting ready to hoist the new girder from the barges
April 15 - The lift has begun
April 15 - Up she goes...
April 15 - ...and still higher
April 15 - Lowering the new girder
April 15 - ...and the other end comes down
April 15 - Halfway down
April 15 - One end is almost in place
April 15 - Just about in place ... The entire operation, beginning with the beam (already in place on the barges) being moved from the Menominee side of the river out to the fourth span and fitted into place, takes about 25 MINUTES!!!
April 15 - Meanwhile another girder is lifted from the truck on the Menominee side
April 15 - Wide view of one end of the girder being lifted from the truck
April 15 - Another view of the girder being lifted
April 15 - Notice the position of the yellow strap being used to lift the girder
April 15 - Notice that the yellow strap has now been moved toward the far end of the girder while workers attach a cable from one of the cranes on the barges to the near end
April 15 - The near end of the girder is now attached to the lifting cable of one of the cranes on the barges
April 15 - Wide view of the lift of the new girder
April 15 - The girder will now be lifted onto the two barges and brought out to be placed over the fourth span
April 17 - I am looking across the small bridge back toward Marinette standing on what was the original sidewalk. Notice how much wider the new bridge will be! The other side of the bridge is a little wider also, but not as much.
April 17 - Footings have been driven in the area where the abutment for the south side of the main span will be (on the north side of Stephenson Island).
April 17 - These next three photos will show the main span beginning from the Menominee side of the project. In this first photo, you can see that the girders now reach from the abutment out to the fourth Bridge Pier (from the Menominee side)
April 17 - This is the area of the fourth and fifth Bridge Piers (from the Menominee side).
April 17 - The final piece of the bridge will go from the north end of Stephenson Island (about the top of the mound to the right) out to the fifth pier (from the Menominee side).
April 17 - Close-up of one of the new bridge girders resting on one of the special trailers used to haul them here. "Spancrete" is a special pre-stressed concrete with cables under tension buried within. These girders have a slight hump to them that will eventually flatten out when the concrete is poured onto the roadway they will support.
April 17 - A closer view ... These girders are 158-feet long, 6-feet high and weigh 80 tons.
April 18 - A worker guides a diaphragm into position on the main span.They are set between all sets of beams (or Bridge Girders), and provide spacing between the beams and lateral stability to the structure. (Thanks to Steve for this description)
April 18 - Forms are shaping up for the bridge abutment on the north side of Stephenson Island (the southern terminus of the main span)
April 18 - Close-up of Bridge Girders' ends shows what looks like a steel plate and then a rubber(?) pad between it and the Bridge Pier
April 18 - A look north across the main span. The next 12 Bridge Girders will take the project to the first Bridge Pier in the foreground. I am not sure what will connect that Bridge Pier with Stephenson Island (in the extreme foreground).
April 19 - A view of one of the new girders from the Menominee side
April 20 - One of the final bridge girders is being moved out to the main span
April 20 - Close-up of the end of the girder on the barges
April 20 - Wide view of the project shows that almost all of the 60 new bridge girders are in place
April 20 - Close-up of the gap between Stephenson Island and the first (from the Marinette side) bridge pier. The abutment is being built on the north end of Stephenson Island, and a roadway will pass under the new bridge (as it did the old one) between the abutment and the edge of the river to get from the public access area on the west side of the island to the pleasure boat docks on the east side.
April 21 - Work on the abutment on the north side of Stephenson Island is progressing.
April 21 - A look north across the entire main span project
April 21 - Close-up of the Bridge Pier closest to Stephenson Island - notice that the top of the pier has two levels. The lower level carries a "normal" Bridge Girder, while the "stepped-up" level will carry a smaller girder. This is where the roadway (mentioned above) must pass beneath the main span.
April 21 - Concrete is being poured on the main span between the beams - notice the hopper to the right of the crane's boom.
April 21 - Work has begun on disassembling the temporary bridge, which carried work traffic around the small bridge as it was being demolished and rebuilt. The small bridge is not yet finished, but the roadway is in place and serviceable, so the temporary bridge is no longer needed.
April 21 - Workers remove a slab of pre-cast concrete which served as the roadway of the temporary bridge.
April 21 - The sections of pre-cast roadway are removed by flatbed trucks.
April 21 - The temporary bridge has half of the pre-cast roadway already removed. The bridge beams (behind the crane) will be removed next.
April 22 - The Temporary By-pass Bridge is all but gone; only the center support remains.
April 27 - Work continues on building forms for the parapet (side "rails") on the small bridge
April 27 - Braces are built outside the (future) bridge parapet on the main bridge (see the same type of braces in the previous photo)
April 28 - Forms are placed on the small bridge for the new parapet
April 28 - Workers guide a piece of the form into place
April 28 - The bridge abutment on the north end of Stephenson Island is really shaping up
April 28 - A look north across the main span of the project
April 30 - The concrete parapet (railing) is partially poured on the east side of the small bridge
April 30 - A look south along the top of the poured part of the parapet
April 30 - The very south end of the parapet awaits concrete
April 30 - The west parapet is just being framed up
April 30 - I am standing atop the bridge over the railroad tracks on the Menominee side looking south. You can see that the entire roadway and both sidewalks beyond this point have been removed.
April 30 - Looking south from the Menominee side, plywood has been placed between the bridge girders of the main span
April 30 - Another view looking south across the main span
April 30 - Looking straight down at one end of a bridge girder
April 30 - Looking down at the ends of two girders with plywood between them
April 30 - Looking south at the east side of the main span
April 30 - A closer look at the east side shows the wooden railing (actually on the outside of the bridge itself) in place for workers to build the forms for the parapet railing
April 30 - A similar wooden railing is in place on the west side of the main span
April 30 - A view looking north from the base of the new main span showing the torn up roadway and sidewalks
April 30 - Looking south from the Menominee side across the main span of the project
April 30 - Looking south up the east side toward the current bridge over the railroad tracks shows a grassy area outside the concrete blocks that mark the edge of the current sidewalk. The bridge over the railroad tracks is not going to be wide enough to mate with the expanded width of the new project. I assume that the bridge will be extended out to the width of this grassy area, which would make it wide enough to mate with the new width.
April 30 - A similar grassy area lies to the west, and will probably serve the same purpose as the one on the east side. This Menominee side of the bridge approach is not scheduled as part of the current project. It will be rebuilt to mate with the new project at a later date.
May 1 - Ground-level view of the new Bridge Abutment on the north side of Stephenson Island (notice that concrete has already been poured)
May 1 - A look north across the project from atop Stephenson Island. Notice that concrete has been poured in the forms for the new abutment.
May 1 - Side view of the small bridge from down-river
May 2 - Concrete is poured into forms for the parapet (railing) on the west side of the small bridge
May 2 - Close-up view of the action
May 4 - The parapet (railing) on the east side of the small bridge has all of its concrete in place.
May 4 - Another view
May 4 - The concrete work is just about done on the parapet on the west side of the bridge also.
May 4 - Dunlap Square in downtown Marinette is still a mess, as new sewer lines will be run and roadways have to be altered.
May 5 - Storm sewers are being put in place on the south side of the Menominee approach (the area between the main span and the bridge over the railroad tracks at the top of the hill)
May 5 - Close-up of the piping
May 5 - A temporary wooden walkway runs the full length of the main span from the Menominee side to the first pier on the Marinette side. This walkway is used during construction of the parapet (railings).
May 5 - The concrete parapet is in place on the west side of the small bridge. The red contraption is a work platform which allows workers to work under the bridge, or along its sides. The crane moves the platform to wherever it is needed by the workers. (Thanks Scott, Brian and Heidi for the info!)
May 6 - A closer look at the work platform
May 7 - The gap between the north end of Stephenson Island and the first Bridge Pier has been spanned!
May 7 - Closer view of the new Bridge Girders
May 7 - Close-up view shows the difference in size between the new girders and the other main span girders
May 7 - Another view
May 7 - A look across the west side of the main span from beneath
May 7 - A look across the east side of the main span
May 7 - Closer view of the east side of the main span from beneath
May 7 - The roadway between the west and east side of Stephenson Island will pass under the new (smaller) girders. There appears to be about 8-feet of clearance between the roadway and the bottom of the girders.
May 7 - Looking south at the west side of the small bridge
May 7 - Looking south across the east side of the small bridge; note again how much wider the new bridge/roadway is going to be!
May 7 - Close-up of one of the panels of the parapet on the small bridge shows the "Wild rice architectural treatment" mentioned earlier
May 7 - Closer view of the etched concrete - remember that this parapet wall will also be "stained" to highlight the area
May 7 - Wide view of the project looking south from the top of the bridge on the Menominee side
May 7 - Close-up view of the bridge from the same vantage point
May 7 - Wide angle view of the bridge from the Mystery Ship Boat Launch in Menominee (looking southwest)
May 7 - Close-up of the final span between the north end of Stephenson Island and the first Bridge Pier from the same vantage point
May 7 - The bridge over the railroad tracks will be altered at a future date.
May 11 - Looking north at the east side of the (mostly completed) structure of the small bridge
May 14 - Looking northeast across the main span from atop Stephenson Island
May 14 - Looking south down the east sidewalk of the small bridge, you can see that the grassy area and trees will need to be removed, and the approach to the bridge will need to angle slightly to miss the corner of the Elks Club building (at the left)
May 14 - Looking south down the west side of the small bridge, there will need to be some filling in to complete the approach
May 14 - Looking north toward the small bridge from the south approach
May 14 - Looking north past the corner of the Elks Club, you can see that the new approach is much wider
May 14 - A look south across the west side of the Menominee approach shows work on new footings, and just how much wider the roadway (and sidewalks) will be.
May 14 - Looking south across the main span of the project
May 14 - Re-inforcing rods are in place to almost mid-span of the main span
May 14 - A new "wall" is taking shape on the footings on the northwest side of the main span .
May 14 - There are many piles of these castings, which will be used to make up the "wall" just mentioned.
May 14 - A look north up the west side of the Menominee approach shows the new footings, and how much wider the new roadway (and sidewalks) will be.
May 14 - Looking south across the west side of the main span
May 14 - Close-up of the re-inforcing for the new roadway of the main span
May 14 - Looking south across the east side of the main span
May 14 - A closer look at the new footings on the west side of the Menominee approach and the new catch basins being installed
May 21 - Wide view of the main span from atop the Menominee side of the project
May 21 - The new wall will connect the bridge with this concrete wall (around the grassy area) leading to the bridge over the railroad tracks
May 21 - Reinforcing rods cover a good part of the main span deck
May 21 - The new wall is growing on the west side of the approach on the Menominee side
May 21 - Looking north at the new wall along the west side of the Menominee approach
May 21 - Looking north at the area between the new wall and the top of the approach where the bridge goes over the railroad tracks
May 21 - Close-up of a section of the new "MSE wall" (mechanical structural engineered)
May 21 - Looking north across the main span from atop Stephenson Island
May 21 - A view of the new "wall" from across the river
May 21 - Looking south along the east sidewalk toward the small bridge - notice how much wider the new bridge is
May 21 - A better look at one of the panels with the wild rice design
May 21 - A closer look at the wild rice design
May 27 - The three trees near the Elks Club were removed this week.
May 27 - Looking north along the sidewalk on the east side of the small bridge to where another MSE wall will need to be built
May 27 - Reinforcing bars are being laid on the south end of the Main Span.
May 27 - Concrete will soon be poured starting around mid-span on the Main Span.
May 27 - Looking south from atop the Menominee side at the Main Span, a series of conveyor belts right down the middle of the bridge is visible
May 27 - Concrete will be dumped into this hopper...
May 27 - ...and fed along this series of conveyors out to mid span
May 27 - A trench has been started along the east side of the Menominee approach; does this mean another MSE wall?
May 27 - Fill has been added at the north end of the main span (alongside the MSE wall to the west)
May 27 - New footings have been added on the west side to accommodate the MSE wall
May 27 - The new footings now span the entire area from the west side of the Main Span to the top of the bridge over the railroad tracks on the Menominee side (looking north
May 27 - The wall appears to simply rest on the footings without being attached
May 27 - One more piece and this section of wall is finished
May 27 - This is the area to the east of the bridge over the railroad tracks on the Menominee side of the project (looking north). The bridge will need to be widened to the size defined by the concrete abutments surrounding the grass.
May 27 - Similar widening will need to be done on the west side (looking north)
May 31 - They began pouring concrete on the Menominee side of the main span today.
May 31 - Close-up of the action from atop the Menominee side of the project around noontime
May 31 - A view from Riverside Avenue west of Stephenson Island
May 31 - A view of the work from Boom Landing down-river from the project
May 31 - Wide view of the entire Main Span from Boom Landing
May 31 - Looking north from atop the knoll on Stephenson Island
May 31 - Close-up of the work, the concrete begins about mid-span and goes north
May 31 - Containment bags are placed around the area on the southeast side of the approach to Stephenson Island where another MSE wall will need to be placed
May 31 - A pre-cast panel with the Wild Rice design sits on the Marinette side of the project. You will notice two different colors; I assume the yellow color (left) is the "staining" that was mentioned before.
May 31 - Close-up of the stained/plain panel
May 31 - It is about 7:30 p.m. and concrete has been poured on the Menominee side of the Main Span
May 31 - Close-up of the northeast corner of the Menominee side of the Main Span shows tarps placed over the fresh concrete
May 31 - The north edge of the Menominee side is tarped.
May 31 - Notice the two young boys climbing the barrier and the two teenage girls walking on the fresh concrete!
June 4 - The MSE wall is approaching its northwestern reach on the Menominee side of the project
June 4 - These small stringers are attached to the inside face of the MSE wall, but I have no idea of their function :O(
June 4 - Looking northeast from atop Stephenson Island, re-inforcing rods continue to be laid for the new roadbed
June 4 - A look at the new MSE wall from atop Stephenson Island
June 4 - The old roadbed has been scraped up on Stephenson Island
June 4 - The east end of Stephenson Island is getting a facelift also
June 4 - A look at the work on the southeast side of Stephenson Island
June 4 - There is a walkway under the south side of the Small Bridge
June 4 - Looking at the west side of the Small Bridge, which is apparently complete except for cosmetic changes (such as "staining")
June 7 - Preparations are being made for a new MSE wall on the east side of Stephenson Island between the two bridges
June 7 - Close-up of the area being prepared (the trees in the background will need to be removed)
June 9 - Part of the new MSE wall on the northeast side of the Small Bridge is now in place
June 9 - Close-up of the new wall section
June 9 - A new section of wall is lowered by a backhoe
June 10 - Concrete now covers the entire roadway of the Main Span; work still remains to pour the sidewalks and parapet walls
June 11 - DAMAGE: Remember the kids I mentioned above that hopped over the barrier onto the freshly poured concrete on May 31? Well, here is some of the damage they did. They also decided to carve their NAMES (duh) onto the surface of the bridge ... I hear they were busted!
June 11 - Looking south at the east side of the bridge
June 11 - Looking south and up at the new MSE wall on the west side of the Menominee approach
June 11 - Looking south from about the middle of the Main Span at the new concrete poured this week
June 11 - Looking north from about the same spot at mid-span
June 11 - Looking north at the Menominee (south) approach, the sidewalk and parapet wall are partially framed in, the new MSE wall is all but complete and the approach has been filled on the west side
June 11 - Another look at the Menominee (south) approach
June 11 - The MSE wall at the north end of the (south) Menominee approach
June 16 - The new MSE wall on the southeast side of Stephenson Island is taking shape
June 16 - Work has also begun on the new MSE wall on the east side of the Menominee (south) Approach
June 17 - Looking north from atop Stephenson Island at the new concrete roadway
June 17 - Looking south at the work on the new MSE wall on the east side of Stephenson Island
June 17 - Closer look at the same area shows part of the wall already built and back-filled
June 17 - Looking north at the new MSE wall from the northeast end of the Small Bridge
June 17 - Side view of the Small Bridge and MSE wall on the east side of Stephenson Island
June 17 - Looking south from the top of the project on the Menominee side
June 17 - A new MSE wall is being constructed between the abutment in the left foreground and the northeast corner of the Main Span
June 17 - Looking south at the new, partially built, MSE wall along the east side of the (south) Menominee approach
June 17 - The wall will eventually be as high as the corner of the bridge
June 17 - Looking north at the new MSE wall on the east side of the (south) Menominee approach
June 17 - The area outlined in red will need to be removed because of the damage done by the kids on May 31
June 17 - A memo of what work needs to be done
June 17 - Another look at the damage shows just how deep those footprints sunk into the fresh concrete on May 31
June 17 - Looking south at the red-outlined area that will need to be replaced
June 21 - Looking south from atop the Bridge Project on the Menominee side - notice the new MSE wall to the left of the photo and the tarped areas on the sidewalks (towards the middle of the Main Span) where it appears that concrete has begun to be poured for the new sidewalks
June 21 - The new MSE wall to the northeast of the Main Span is progressing nicely
June 21 - View of the northeast side of the Main Span shows the area where the kids had left footprints (just to the right of the crane) has been ground off, and the area of the sidewalk where the new concrete has been poured
June 21 - Looking south at the damaged area where the concrete has been ground off
June 21 - Close-up look at part of the ground-off areas (on both sides of the longitudinal bars)
June 21 - Looking north at the ground-off, damaged area
June 21 - An egret is seen between uprights of the new MSE wall
June 21 - Close-up of the egret
June 21 - The east end of Stephenson Island has received new bracing
June 26 - The new MSE wall on the east side of the (south) Menominee Approach is taking shape.
June 26 - Another view of the wall
June 26 - Looking south from atop the Menominee Approach, the new wall will eventually connect from the Main Span to the concrete abutment in the foreground
June 26 - Looking southeast at the new wall from the Menominee (south) Approach
June 26 - Looking southwest from River Park Campground at the Main Span and part of the new wall
June 26 - Close-up of a section of the new wall ... that is a drain between the black plastic "walls"
June 26 - Looking north across the bridge over the railroad tracks - the bridge will need to be "pushed out" to the very edges of the abutments surrounding the grassy areas
June 26 - Looking north at the Small Bridge and the new MSE wall being erected in that area
June 26 - The new wall makes a slight jog to the left as it heads for the Main Span
June 26 - Looking south toward the Small Bridge at the new wall
June 26 - A view of the Small Bridge and wall from the southeast side of Stephenson Island
June 26 - Looking east at the new steel faced dock of Nestegg Marine on the southeast side of Stephenson Island
July 2 - Looking south at the MSE Wall on the east side of Stephenson Island
July 2 - Looking northeast at the Main Span from atop Stephenson Island
July 2 - Sidewalks are in and the parapet wall on the southwest side of the Main Span is shaping up (the walls on the Main Span will have the same Wild Rice inlays as on the Small Bridge)
July 2 - Looking south at the west side of the Menominee Approach; the wooden walkway is in place to aid in the construction of a parapet wall. Once the parapet wall is completed, the wooden walkway will be removed.
July 2 - Looking north at the west side of the south Menominee Approach shows re-inforcing rods are being laid for the sidewalk and the new parapet wall.
July 2 - (Looking south) The area damaged by the kids earlier (The darker upside-down "T-shaped" area) has been repaired, and the final part of the sidewalk is laid on the northwest side of the Main Span
July 2 - (Looking north) The MSE Wall on the east side of the south Menominee Approach is rapidly advancing (it will eventually hook up with the concrete abutment (to the left of the big tree)
July 9 - (Looking south at the east side of the bridge) The new MSE Wall is nearing completion
July 9 - The MSE Wall on the northeast side of the Small Bridge has taken an unusual turn ...
July 9 - Notice how the wall comes straight off the Small Bridge, bends slightly to the left, and then angles sharply to the right (see next photos)
July 9 - Looking south at the MSE wall between the Main Span and the Small Bridge, you can see the new MSE Wall juts out considerably ...
July 9 - (Looking south) Close-up of the "bulge" shows the extra width on the northeast side - notice also how the wall "bends" outward to the Small Bridge
July 9 - (Looking north) Sidewalks are finished on the Main Span and part of the new parapet wall is in place on the southwest corner
July 9 - (Looking north) The new parapet wall and sidewalk on the west side of the Main Span
July 9 - The parapet walls of the Main Span also have the wild rice look
July 9 - (Looking north) Part of the new sidewalk on the west side of the south Menominee approach is in place ...
July 9 - A closer look shows a difference in the height of the sidewalk on the approach and that on the bridge - I assume that they will eventually be the same height
July 9 - Looking north along the new MSE Wall on the east side of the south Menominee approach ...
July 9 - Only this small gap needs to be completed
July 9 - Looking south at the new parapet wall on the southwest side of the Main Span
July 9 - Looking east at the southwest corner of the Main Span parapet wall from the roadway below on the northwest side of Stephenson Island
July 9 - Looking up at the bracing for the temporary walkway used in building the new parapet wall (all of the bracing and walkway will later be removed) - notice the difference in the height of the Bridge Girders, the ones to the right are smaller to give extra height to the roadway that passes under the Main Span on the north side of Stephenson Island (see previous photo)
July 9 - Looking north from across the river at the new MSE Wall on the east side of the south Menominee Approach
July 9 - Looking south at the new sidewalk on the west side of the south Menominee Approach with the Main Span visible in the background
July 9 - Wide view of the same area
July 9 - Just this small gap in the new MSE Wall on the east side of the south Menominee Approach needs to be finished before sidewalks and parapet walls begin to be built
July 9 - Looking south at the Main Span of the project
July 9 - I assume the new Bishop's Hook Lights will be placed on top of these jut-outs on the Main Span
July 9 - Closer look at one of the jut-outs with the wooden bracing removed
July 9 - One of 12 drains on the Main Span (6 on each side)
July 16 - Looking south at the new MSE wall on the east side of Stephenson Island (I have no idea what the jut-out will be used for)
July 16 - Looking north at the east side of the Main Span and the south Menominee Approach shows that the new MSE wall is now complete to the top of the bridge over the railroad tracks
July 16 - Looking northeast at the Main Span from atop Stephenson Island
July 16 - Looking at the northwest corner of the Main Span and the south Menominee Approach shows that the new parapet wall on the west side almost spans the bridge, and the sidewalk on the approach is framed-up almost halfway up the hill
July 16 - Looking north at the new parapet wall on the west side of the Main Span
July 16 - Looking south toward the Main Span from atop the bridge over the railroad tracks on the Menominee side down the west side of the project you can just see that the new sidewalk is formed-up about halfway up the slope
July 16 - A closer look at the new sidewalk area with the re-inforcing rods in place for the parapet wall on the west side of the south Menominee Approach (the new sidewalk will eventually be level with the top of the forms to the left of the sidewalk
July 16 - A slightly different view of the new sidewalk area shows concrete on the outside of the future parapet wall
July 16 - Looking south at the now-completed MSE wall between the main span and the bridge over the railroad tracks on the east side
July 16 - Looking south at the Main Span of the Bridge and about half of the south Menominee Approach
July 23 - Looking north along the east wall of the Small Bridge shows that the roadway will bend back slightly to the left as it approaches the Main Span
July 23 - A closer look at the jut-out on the east side of the south side of the approach to the Main Span
July 23 - Looking south at the "jut-out" on the east side of the south approach to the Main Span shows what appears to be a possible walkway down to the east side of Stephenson Island, or ...
July 23 - The parapet wall on the northeast side of the Main Span is shaping up
July 23 - The parapet wall on the west side of the south Menominee Approach is partially poured and the rest is framed with re-inforcing rods
July 23 - Looking north at the west side of the south Menominee Approach shows a sub-sidewalk in place along with a partially completed parapet wall
July 23 - Looking north from the middle of the Main Span at the south Menominee Approach
July 23 - A look at the new "design" on the east side of Stephenson Island
July 23 - Looking east at the improvements to the rip-rap on the north side of Stephenson Island
July 23 - Looking north at the west side of the Main Span and the south Menominee Approach
July 23 - Looking up at the bridge beams over the roadway under the Main Span on the north side of Stephenson Island
July 23 - Looking north from the east side of Stephenson Island at the completed MSE wall on the south Menominee Approach
July 23 - The west side of the Main Span from Stephenson Island
July 23 - The temporary bracing for the building of the parapet wall on the west side of the Main Span is being removed
July 23 - Looking south at the Main Span from the west side of the top of the south Menominee Approach
July 23 - Looking south right down the middle of the south Menominee Approach at the Main Span
July 23 - Looking southwest at the nearly-finished parapet wall on the west side of the Main Span and the sub-sidewalk and parapet wall along the south Menominee Approach
July 30 - (Looking south from atop the bridge over the railroad tracks on the Menominee side) The sub-sidewalk is laid and the parapet wall is about half-way finished on the west side of the south Menominee Approach
July 30 - (Looking south) The parapet wall on the east side of the Main Span is about 3/4 complete
July 30 - Looking south at the Main Span
July 30 - Looking north along the east side of the Main Span parapet wall
July 30 - Looking north at the west parapet wall and sub-sidewalk
July 30 - Looking straight north along the west side of the south Menominee Approach
July 30 - Looking north at the west side of the south Menominee Approach shows the parapet wall about 1/2 finished
July 30 - Looking south at the east side of the Main Span shows that only about 1/4 of the parapet wall has yet to be done
Aug. 3 - (Looking south) The north-bound lane of the road leading up to the Small Bridge from downtown Marinette has been paved just about to the Small Bridge
Aug. 3 - Close-up view of the "Dunlap Square" area (looking south)
Aug. 6 - These are the "Wild Rice" templates used to make the design in the parapet walls; they appear to be made out of a light-weight neoprene or rubber(?)
Aug. 6 - (Looking south) The parapet wall and sub-sidewalk are now in place on the west side of the project from the south side of the Main Span to the bridge over the railroad tracks on the south Menominee Approach
Aug. 6 - Looking south at the Main Span
Aug. 6 - Looking north at the south side of the Main Span
Aug. 6 - The final section of parapet wall is in place on the southeast side of the Main Span
Aug. 6 - Looking north at the south Menominee Approach from about the middle of the Main Span
Aug. 6 - Looking north at the parapet wall and sub-sidewalk along the west side of the south Menominee Approach
Aug. 6 - Looking south at the east parapet wall on the south side of the Main Span
Aug. 11 - A new MSE wall has been constructed on the northwest side between the Stephenson Public Library and the Small Bridge
Aug. 14 - Another view of the wall looking north
Aug. 14 - Looking south along the new MSE wall on the west side (from the Small Bridge)
Aug. 14 - The new road is laid out alongside the Elks Club
Aug. 14 - Ludington Street will be one way going north
Aug. 14 - Looking north along the east side between the Small Bridge and the Main Span shows a pretty good bend in the road
Aug. 14 - Looking south at the same area
Aug. 14 - Looking north at the South Menominee Approach
Aug. 14 - The new sidewalk is being formed on the northeast of Stephenson Island (walkway down to island from bridge-level is to the right)
Aug. 14 - Looking south (toward the Main Span) at the new parapet wall on the west side of the South Menominee Approach
Aug. 14 - Looking south at the Main Span from the South Menominee Approach
Aug. 20 - Looking south from the bridge over the railroad tracks points to the probability that the walls of the (railroad) bridge will eventually be pushed out to match the extra width of the new span
Aug. 20 - A different look at the same area shows what would appear to be a temporary parapet wall (note the difference in design of the curved section as opposed to the rest of the wall)
Aug. 20 - Ludington Street will be one way (heading north) while Main Street will split into a straight-through road and a right turn lane.
Aug. 20 - The new sidewalk's 7-ft. width will just fit in front of the Elks Club.
Aug. 20 - A closer look (north) at the Elks Club area
Aug. 20 - Looking north at the new sub-sidewalk on the east side between the Small Bridge and the Main Span
Aug. 20 - Looking south from the Main Span at the same area
Aug. 20 - A closer look (south) at the new sub-sidewalk shows the curvature of the new roadway (perhaps extra width for a northbound left-turn lane onto Stephenson Island???), but also note that the two ends of the new sidewalk don't seem to line up?!?
Aug. 20 - (Looking north) The sidewalk on the east side of the project between the Small Bridge and the Main Span will split to accommodate a walkway down to the east side of Stephenson Island
Aug. 27 - (Looking north from the east side of the Small Bridge) The sub-sidewalk and re-inforcing rods for the parapet wall are all in place
Aug. 27 - Looking south at the same area from the Main Span
Aug. 27 - (Looking north across the Main Span) The South Menominee Approach roadway has been leveled off
Aug. 27 - (Looking south from atop the bridge over the railroad tracks on the Menominee side) The roadway has been graded on the South Menominee Approach and the Main Span is looking good
Sept. 3 - (Looking north along the east side of the South Menominee Approach) Preparations are being made to start the parapet wall
Sept. 3 - (Looking north from the Main Span) The middle of the roadway is staked out
Sept. 3 - (Looking south along the east side from the Main Span) A good chunk of the parapet wall is now in place between the Main Span and the Small Bridge
Sept. 3 - The gap in the sidewalk on the east side remains a mystery
Sept. 3 - (Looking north) The walkway down to the east side of Stephenson Island is taking shape
Sept. 3 - Looking down inside a parapet wall form, you can see the wild rice design template (the gray piece toward the right side of the photo); when the concrete is poured the design is transferred to the finished wall
Sept. 3 - A few of the new "Bishop's Hook Arm" lights are in place on he Marinette side
Sept. 3 - Close-up of one of the new lights
Sept. 3 - (Looking north) The new sidewalk isn't as close to the Elks Club building as it looked like it would be
Sept. 3 - One of the new lights near the Elks Club
Sept. 3 - The intersection in Marinette is taking shape. Blacktop and concrete have been used to finish the roadway.
Sept. 3 - (Looking northeast) Ludington Street to the left will be one-way going north and Main Street (to the right) will go straight through and have a separate right turn lane
Sept. 3 - (Looking north) The re-inforcing rods for the parapet wall between the library and the Small Bridge are in place
Sept. 3 - (Looking north along the west side) A walkway from road level down to the library parking lot is taking shape
Sept. 3 - Another look at the new walkway (from parking lot level)
Sept. 3 - A two-lane concrete spreading machine awaits on the South Menominee Approach; the concrete roadway will soon be in place
Sept. 3 - More equipment on the South Menominee Approach
Sept. 3 - Looking south at the Main Span from atop the bridge over the railroad tracks on the Menominee side
Sept. 9 - Two of the new lamp posts are complete (near the Elks Club in Marinette)
Sept. 9 - Close-up of the lamp head
Sept. 10 - A view of the newly "stained" Main Span from down-river
Sept. 10 - The brighter white areas are the new stain color chosen for the project
Sept. 10 - (Looking south) The new parapet wall (on the west side of the approach to the Small Bridge) is about finished
Sept. 10 - (Looking north at the east side) Concrete work has begun on the northbound lane on Stephenson Island
Sept. 10 - (Looking east) The mis-matched sidewalk has a curbing around it
Sept. 10 - (Looking south) Another look at the mis-matched sidewalk
Sept. 10 - (Looking northeast) The parapet wall on the main Span is stained and the northbound traffic lane is taking shape
Sept. 10 - (Looking east) Another look at the stained/non-stained area of the Main Span
Sept. 10 - (Looking north at the South Menominee Approach) Concrete work on the northbound lane is just about complete
Sept. 10 - (Looking north) The sidewalk on the east side of the Menominee Approach has not yet been formed-up
Sept. 10 - (Looking north at the South Menominee Approach) The southbound lane is ready for concrete
Sept. 10 - (Looking south) The east side of the Main Span
Sept. 10 - (Looking south) The west side of the Main Span
Sept. 10 - (Looking southeast from the Main Span) Concrete work on the northbound lane between the two bridges is almost done
Sept. 10 - (Looking north from atop the knoll on Stephenson Island) The west side of the Main Span's outer wall is also stained
Sept. 10 - (Looking east) Blacktop has been laid on the underpass of the Main Span on Stephenson Island
Sept. 10 - (Looking south) The ramp from bridge-level down to Stephenson Island on the east side
Sept. 10 - (Looking north) Another view of the ramp down to the east side of Stephenson Island
Sept. 10 - (Looking north) The east side of the Main Span's parapet wall is stained
Sept. 15 - A view of the Main Span looking southwest from Menominee's Mystery Ship Boat Launch
Sept. 17 - (Looking north) The beginning of a traffic island just north of Dunlap Square
Sept. 17 - (Looking north) The southbound lane is about 90% complete all the way across the bridges and approaches. Also, a fifth (left hand turn) lane is evident.
Sept. 17 - Looking south from the small bridge towards Dunlap Square
Sept. 17 - A partially stained parapet wall shows off the bright grayish-white staining.
Sept. 17 - (Looking north) Pipes lie on top of the sub-sidewalk on the east side of the Stephenson Island approach.
Sept. 17 - Looking south at the same area
Sept. 17 - One of two expansion joints on the Main Span
Sept. 17 - (Looking north up the east side of the South Menominee Approach) The sidewalk and parapet wall begin to take shape.
Sept. 17 - (Looking north at the South Menominee Approach) The roadway and bike lanes all have concrete in place, along with the parapet wall and sub-sidewalk on the west side
Sept. 17 - (Looking north at the east side of the South Menominee Approach) The cracks in the cement pretty well define the different areas - (R to L) 7-foot sidewalk (unfinished), 5-foot bike lane, 12-foot traffic lane (4 of these), 5-foot bike path, and 7-foot sidewalk
Sept. 17 - Looking south from about half-way up the South Menominee Approach toward the Main Span
Sept. 17 - (Looking south from the South Menominee Approach) The sidewalk and parapet wall on the east side remain to be finished
Sept. 17 - (Looking south from the South Menominee Approach) The west side needs a finished sidewalk and cement for one rectangle of a traffic lane
Sept. 17 - (Looking south) The northbound left turn lane ends on Stephenson Island
Sept. 17 - (Looking south) The turnout from Stephenson Island onto the approach (northbound lane in foreground)
Sept. 17 - looking north at the same area
Sept. 17 - Close-up of the beginning of the traffic island from the previous photo
Sept. 17 - (Looking south from the Small Bridge toward the library) The parapet wall and sub-sidewalk are in place on the west side
Sept. 17 - (Looking northwest from Dunlap Square) Traffic lights are being put in place
Sept. 17 - Looking southwest down Hall Avenue) The Bishop's Hook Arm Lights were continued through the downtown area
Sept. 22 - (Looking north) The east side of Stephenson Island between the Small Bridge and Main Span is almost finished
Sept. 24 - (Looking north) More new lights are in place on the east side of the project between the two bridges
Sept. 24 - (Looking north) This traffic island marks the end of the northbound left-turn lane on Stephenson Island
Sept. 24 - (Looking northwest) The turn-off onto the west side of Stephenson Island
Sept. 24 - Looking southwest at the turn-off
Sept. 24 - (Looking south) The turn-off to the island is just past the traffic island
Sept. 24 - (Looking north) The sidewalk is complete between the east-side walkway down to the island and the Small Bridge
Sept. 24 - (Looking north) This small section of sidewalk on the east side between the Main Span and the walkway remains to be finished
Sept. 24 - (Looking south) The sidewalk on the west side of Stephenson Island has not yet been formed-up
Sept. 24 - (Looking south) The sidewalk on the west side between the turn-off onto the island and the Small Bridge also needs to be formed-up
Sept. 24 - (Looking south) The sidewalk between the Small Bridge and the library is completed almost up to the walkway down to the parking lot
Sept. 24 - Looking north at the same area from the walkway down to the parking lot
Sept. 24 - Looking south toward Dunlap Square from in front of the Elks Club
Sept. 24 - (Looking north from Dunlap Square) A traffic island between the north and southbound lanes takes shape.
Sept. 24 - (Looking north) A traffic light and more new Bishop's Hook Arm lights are visible
Sept. 24 - (Looking west along Main Street) Straight through traffic stays left and northbound (to the bridge) traffic stays right
Sept. 24 - (Looking northwest) From left to right - Main Street straight through lane, Main Street right turn lane, and Ludington Avenue right turn lane
Sept. 24 - The sidewalk in front of the Elks Club is finished
Sept. 24 - (Looking south) A traffic island takes shape on the south side of Dunlap Square
Sept. 24 - (Looking south) The southbound lane of Hall Avenue is the last part to be overhauled on US-41
Sept. 24 - (Looking north) The sidewalk and parapet wall on the east side of the South Menominee Approach takes shape
Sept. 24 - (Looking north) Just a finish-layer of concrete will take care of the sidewalk on the west side of the approach
Sept. 24 - Looking south at the whole project from the bridge over the railroad tracks on the Menominee side
Sept. 24 - Looking south at the sidewalk and parapet wall forms on the east side of the South Menominee Approach
Sept. 24 - Looking south at the sidewalk and parapet wall on the west side of the approach
Sept. 24 - (Looking south) One of the old lights lies between three of the new Bishop's Hook Arm-style lights on the west side of the approach
Oct. 8 - (Looking north) The Main Span and South Menominee Approach are very far along; lights have been added on the west side of the bridge
Oct. 8 - A view south from the same spot
Oct. 8 - (Looking south) Not much has been done to the area of the sidewalk on the west side of Stephenson Island
Oct. 8 - (Looking north) The sidewalk on the west side of the South Menominee Approach is finished.
Oct. 8 - (Looking north) The sidewalk and parapet wall on the east side of the South Menominee Approach are very far along.
Oct. 8 - (Looking north) Just this area of sidewalk and parapet wall remain to be finished on the east side of the Approach.
Oct. 8 - Looking north at the South Menominee Approach ... looking good
Oct. 8 - (Looking south) Lights have been added to the west side of the Main Span; only the lights on the east side and the handrails (on both sides) are needed to complete the Main Span.
Oct. 8 - (Looking south) A new light pole rests on the east sidewalk, while the rest of the lights are installed along that side.
Oct. 8 - Looking south along the parapet wall from the southeast side of the Main Span shows the nearly completed sidewalk and the ramp down to Stephenson Island
Oct. 8 - Looking south at a gap in the sidewalk where the ramp down to the island will be on the east side
Oct. 8 - (Looking south) This divider is in the middle of the roadway on Stephenson Island and marks the end of the left-hand turn lane for the northbound lane
Oct. 8 - (Looking south) The sidewalk in front of the library has just a small area on the south side that needs completion
Oct. 8 - Close-up of the same area shows the ramp down to the library parking lot and the unfinished sidewalk in front of the library
Oct. 8 - (Looking north) Dunlap Square has taken shape.
Oct. 8 - (Looking west from the north side of the Lauerman Building) New traffic lights are in place
Oct. 8 - (Looking southwest from Ludington Street) Dunlap Square as it looks from this angle
Oct. 8 - (Looking south) The southbound lane of Hall Avenue is paved all the way to Hattie Street; just the area from Hattie Street to the intersection of US-41 and HWY-64 needs to be paved.
Oct. 8 - (Looking south from atop the bridge over the railroad tracks on the Menominee side) The west sidewalk, parapet wall and lights are all in place; just the handrail atop the wall remains
Oct. 8 - (Same vantage point) This area of the sidewalk and parapet wall is all that remains of the concrete work on the east side of the South Menominee Approach
Oct. 8 - (Same vantage point) Looking south right down the middle of the whole bridge project
Oct. 15 - (Looking north) All of the new lights are in place on the Main Span and the South Menominee Approach
Oct. 15 - (Looking north) The sidewalk on the west side of Stephenson Island will go here
Oct. 15 - (Looking south) This small area and the area in front of the library also await the new sidewalk
Oct. 15 - (Looking northeast) A view of the west side of the Main Span from below
Oct. 15 - (Looking south from below) The walkway down to the east side of Stephenson Island
Oct. 15 - (Looking north) A view of the east side of the Main Span from below
Oct. 15 - (Looking south) The parapet wall on the east side of the South Menominee Approach is just about done. A hand rail will be placed on top of the parapet wall.
Oct. 15 - (Looking south) The bridge part of the project is all but DONE! All of the new lights are in place; just the sidewalks mentioned above and the hand rails atop the parapet walls need to be put in place.
Oct. 20 - (Looking north) The sidewalk on the west side of Stephenson Island is almost complete; just one small section is left
Oct. 20 - (Looking south) The walkway down to the east side Stephenson Island only needs a hand rail to be complete
Oct. 20 - (Looking south) The final section of parapet wall on the east side of the South Menominee Approach is now complete.
NOTE: With the exception of a couple light standards, some guard rails and decorative hand rails on top of the parapet walls the bridge part of the project appears to be DONE!! The corner sidewalk in front of the library has yet to be finished and one of the traffic islands on Dunlap Square is still under construction.
Oct. 23 - (Looking north) The small section of sidewalk on the west side of Stephenson Island is finished
Oct. 23 - (Looking south) The ramp up to the east side of Stephenson Island lacks just a hand rail and some landscaping
Oct. 23 - (Looking north) The ramp down to the east side of Stephenson Island from bridge-level
Oct. 27 - (Looking west from Main Street) Traffic signals are in place and crosswalks and turn lane signs are being painted on the roadway
Oct. 27 - The new sidewalk in front of the library was the last of the cement work on the "bridge" project
Oct. 27 - (Looking south) Cement was also laid for the walkway from the library parking lot up to bridge level
Oct. 27 - (Looking southeast) Another look at the new library ramp from parking lot level
Oct. 27 - (Looking south toward Dunlap Square) Painted traffic signs are in place on this part of the roadway also
Oct. 27 - (Looking north) The bridge and South Menominee Approach receive finishing touches (notice the new handrails)
Oct. 27 - Workers finish up one of the new lights
Oct. 27 - (Looking north) A look at the ramp from the bridge down to the east side of Stephenson Island (the bolts on the parapet wall are for the new handrails)
Oct. 27 - (Looking north along the west side) The new decorative handrails are in place across about 3/4 of the Main Span
Oct. 27 - (Looking east) The wild rice designed parapet wall and a section of decorative handrail frame the USCG Mackinaw at Marinette Marine and the Viking I (old carferry) at K&K Warehouse
Oct. 27 - (Looking south from the South Menominee Approach) The approach receives finishing touches while the Main Span gets new handrails. New lights have yet to be put in place on the east side of the Approach.
Oct. 29 - (Looking north) A view of the Main Span from atop the knoll on Stephenson Island
Oct. 29 - (Looking north) All traffic lanes are now defined: {From L to R} 7-ft. wide sidewalk, 5-ft. wide bike path, four 12-ft. wide traffic lanes, 5-ft. wide bike path and 7-ft. wide sidewalk
Oct. 29 - (Looking northwest) A view of the Main Span from the new ramp down to Stephenson Island's east side
Oct. 29 - Looking directly up at one of the new Bishop's Hook Arm Lights
Nov. 1 - (Looking north) A guard rail has been added to the southeast end of the Small Bridge
Nov. 1 - (Looking north) A view of the project from the Small Bridge shows a slight bend in the approach on Stephenson Island
Nov. 1 - (Looking north) The bike lane is plainly marked in front of the Elks Club
Nov. 3 - The Menominee South Approach wall has finally been stained with the gray/white color!
Nov. 3 - Close-up of the start of the newly stained section just north of the Main Span
Nov. 3 - A view of the Main Span and South Menominee Approach from up-river
Nov. 3 - (Looking north) The northbound left turn lane to Stephenson Island is clearly marked
Nov. 5 - (Looking southeast) Matting for new turf is set around the west side of the Small Bridge
Nov. 5 - (Looking north) The west side of the Stephenson Island Approach is also seeded
Nov. 5 - (Looking northwest) A guard rail is in place along the west side south of the Main Span
Nov. 5 - (Looking north) All of the new lights are now in place
Nov. 5 - (Looking southwest) The Small Bridge area just needs decorative handrails atop the parapet wall to be finished
Nov. 8 - (Looking north) Dunlap Square as seen from in front of the Stephenson National Bank
Nov. 8 - (Looking south) The project as seen from the bridge over the railroad tracks on the Menominee side
Nov. 8 - (Looking south) Closer view shows the decorative handrail still needs to be put in place on the east side of the South Menominee Approach
Nov. 8 - (Looking south) The bike path starts here on the west side of the South Menominee Approach
Nov. 8 - (Looking north) West-side bike path looking from the opposite direction. Also, note that the decorative handrail ends here; there are no bolts sticking up, I assume it will remain that way until Menominee finishes its side of the project in 2007
Nov. 8 - (Looking south) The east-side bike path ends at the top of the South Menominee Approach
Nov. 8 - (Looking north) Looking at the end of the east-side bike path from the opposite direction
Nov. 8 - (Looking south) The decorative handrail on the west side of the project
Nov. 8 - (Looking south) The bolts are in place, but the decorative hand rails have yet to be installed on the east side of the project between the top of the South Menominee Approach and the north end of the Main Span
Nov. 8 - (Looking north) Nighttime photo from Dunlap Square looking past the Elks Club (4 new lights are lit)
Nov. 8 - (Looking south) Another night view looking down Hall Avenue from Dunlap Square with the new lights lit
Nov. 10 - (Looking south) The decorative handrail is in place on the east side of the South Menominee Approach; a few more lights need to be attached to the lamp posts.
Nov. 12 - (Looking south) Looking mighty empty and lonely! It won't be long now!
Nov. 12 - (Looking south) Traffic lights on Dunlap Square are now operational (just flashing for now).
Nov. 12 - (Looking south) A small section of handrail appears to be needed to complete the east side wall (note the bolts sticking up).
Nov. 12 - (Looking south) Lights still need to be installed on four lamp posts on the South Menominee Approach
Nov. 12 - (Looking south) Close-up of a lamp without a light
Nov. 12 - (Looking south) Road signs have begun to appear
Nov. 12 - (Looking south) A site familiar to all of us all this year will soon disappear (Menominee approach from the "foot of the bridge")
Nov. 14 - A new guard rail on the south side of Stephenson Island is one of the few things left to finish the bridge areas
Nov. 14 - (Looking northwest) This lamp post on the northeast side of the Small Bridge is the final one
Nov. 17 - All of the new lights on the Bridge Project are now in place and lit at night!! (we also got our first snow last night)
Nov. 19 - (Looking southwest) The handrail for the ramp on the east side (near the south end of the Main Span) from bridge level down to Stephenson Island is in place.
Nov. 19 - (Looking north) A view of the ramp from bridge level
Nov. 19 - (Looking northeast) The sidewalk splits to go either across the bridge or down to the island. Notice that the decorative handrail on the ramp matches the design of the handrail across the bridge.
Nov. 19 - (Looking east) The beginning of the decorative handrail and the end of the guard rail at the southeast end of the Small Bridge
Nov. 19 - (Looking south) The ramp from the library parking lot up to bridge-level now has a handrail (which also matches the design of the decorative handrail used throughout the Bridge Project)
Nov. 19 - HWY 64 & US-41 intersection - (Looking east) This intersection will take some getting used to! State Street is no longer a through street, it dead-ends at Walgreens heading north and heading south will be only a right-turn onto HWY 64 heading west. You can just see a turnout (past the vehicle parked on the median); this will be a left-turn onto HWY 64 coming from US-41 (while heading north). To the left of the median is a one-way lane coming off US-41 (or State Street) heading west on HWY 64. Clear as mud, huh?!? :O)
Nov. 23 - Traffic AT LAST! The bridge was opened yesterday at noon.
Nov. 28 - Ooops! - The new lamp posts were built with two horizontal brackets sticking out for posting banners, road signs, etc. Shortly after some banners were attatched to these brackets, a huge windstorm ripped through Menominee & Marinette and tore some of those brackets from the lamp posts.
Nov. 28 - A different view shows one bracket still in place with a banner attached and the bottom one missing
Nov. 28 - Close-up of one of the (empty) brackets. The weak point appears to be where the bracket narrows (close to the post). Check out the previous photo and you will see that the base of the bracket still appears to be attached to the post.
Nov. 29 - Close-up of the base of a bracket with the bracket missing
Nov. 29 - One of two builders plates found on each side of the south end of the Main Span
Nov. 29 - This plate is on the southeast end of the Main Span
Nov. 29 - This plate is on the southwest end of the Main Span (note the different number from the previous plate)
Nov. 29 - The official ribbon cutters which will be used for the ribbon cutting ceremony this Saturday
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Some of the participants in the ceremony were: Marinette Mayor - Doug Oitzinger, Menominee Mayor - George Krah, Northern Michigan Representative/Office of Michigan Governor Granholm - Stacy Welling, Wisconsin Secretary of Transportation/Governor's Representative - Frank Busalacchi, Director of Menominee Historic Preservation/ Menominee (Native American) Nation - Dave Grignon, Michigan Congressman - Bart Stupak (U.S. House of Representatives), Michigan (State) Representative - Tom Casperson, Wisconsin (State) Senator - Dave Hansen, and Honorary Ribbon Cutter - Mrs. Catherine (VanCamp) Anderson, who, as a girl of 12 was a holder of the ribbon which was cut to open the previous Interstate Bridge in a 1930 ceremony (the bridge was actually opened in 1929).
Dec. 3 - A string of antique autos (and a new 2006 truck) brought up the rear of the parade held before the ceremony
Dec. 3 - Parade Marshall (and Ribbon Cutter) Catherine Anderson's vehicle in the parade
Dec. 3 - Close-up of a couple of the other antique autos
Dec. 3 - Jon Kukuk (on left), of Nest Egg Marine who set up the podium for today's ceremony, talks with Mayor Oitzinger prior to the event
Dec. 3 - Close-up of Jon and "Mayor Doug" at the podium
Dec. 3 - (L to R) Front Row: Dave Hansen, Frank Busalacchi and Mayor Doug Oitzinger. Back Row: Dave Grignon, Mrs. Catherine Anderson and Jack Felch (who sang the National Anthem to begin the ceremony)
Dec. 3 - The two Mayors (Oitzinger {L} and Krah {R}) look on
Dec. 3 - Mayor Krah speaks with Rep. Stupak before the ceremony begins
Dec. 3 - Mayor Doug Oitzinger opens the ceremony
Dec. 3 - Jack Felch prepares to sing the National Anthem
Dec. 3 - Lay Minister Darrel Diers of St. James Lutheran Church in Marinette gives the blessing
Dec. 3 - Sen. Hansen, John Busalacchi and Dave Grignon look on
Dec. 3 - Mayor Krah takes the podium
Dec. 3 - Stacy Welling is next
Dec. 3 - ...and then Frank Busalacchi
Dec. 3 - Dave Grignon speaks of the Native American heritage and the history of the area, then gives a blessing in his native language as the two Mayors look on
Dec. 3 - The ribbon is about to be cut
Dec. 3 - The ribbon is cut and the bridge is officially open!
Go Back To Top Of Page
Well, that wraps up this chapter (and this page) in the on-going history of the Interstate Bridge(s) between Menominee, MI and Marinette, WI.
Hope you enjoyed the photos!
THANK YOU Everyone!!!
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