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Work proceeds on Highway 61 bridge repair
Over Reads Creek
Highway 61 bridge repair over Reads Creek
On Monday, Oct. 17, the bridge on Highway 61, just south of Readstown over Reads Creek, was closed for repairs. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation estimates the bridge will be reopened to traffic by November 17.

READSTOWN - On Monday, Oct. 17, the bridge on Highway 61, just south of Readstown over Reads Creek, was closed for repairs. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation estimates the bridge will be reopened to traffic by November 17.

“In the course of a routine bridge inspection, the DOT discovered that a hole had developed, due to flooding, that had exposed the outside pilings of the bridge,” Vernon County Highway Commissioner Phil Hewitt said. “When the pilings were inspected, DOT staff discovered that there had been deterioration in need of repair.”

Hewitt was quick to say that the damage was not such that the bridge was unsafe. He said that it was merely considered prudent to make repairs before an unsafe situation could develop.

“Weather permitting, the project work is scheduled ‘dark to dark’ until repair work is completed,” Hewitt said. “Unless something changes, even if work is not completed in this construction season, the bridge will not remained closed through the winter.”

Hewitt explained that the work will involve placing new pilings, and pouring a concrete shell around existing pilings.

“I wasn’t sure if DOT would actually get to the project this year, so late in the season,” Hewitt said. “But, they let the bids, got acceptable bids in response, and decided to move forward with the project this year.”

According to the DOT website, the repair project will involve a south abutment repair of structure over Reads Creek, and new asphalt/concrete on the approach slab.

In the meantime, traffic has been detoured following Highway 171 (in Boaz) and 14. @font-face {font-family:Arial; panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073711037 9 0 511 0;}@font-face {font-family:Times; panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}@font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face {font-family:"MS Mincho"; mso-font-alt:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:modern; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1791491579 134217746 0 131231 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho";}.MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho";}div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;}