Politics & Government
Harmonee Bridge Repairs Start Monday, with Lane Closings Coming
The $1.27 million project to update the Village's aerial artery will bring with it some lane closures, but contractors are supposed to avoid rush-hour inconveniences.
From any distance, the Harmonee Bridge in Tosa Village looks to be in fairly decent shape. But upon closer inspection, the 1981 structure is getting long in the tooth and is showing its age.
From the top down, its railings are rusted, out of alignment and out of date. Expansion joints are corroded and uneven, creating a pedestrian-unfriendly tripping hazard. Lighting is dim above and below.
More critically, underneath, the structural beams that support the weight of roadway and traffic need repair and reinforcing.
Find out what's happening in Wauwatosawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
In short, Harmonee Bridge is due for a redo, and that work starts Monday, with lane closures in one or both directions to be expected for the duration, which the city says will be "late this year."
The city has executed a $1.27 million contract with Monoco LLC of Tarpon Springs, FL, for the project.
Find out what's happening in Wauwatosawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
According to the , one lane of through traffic in each direction will be maintained at all times, and the contract calls for limiting lane closures to between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily. Some longer lane closures may be necessary during certain phases of the project.
Major work elements of the project include a complete sandblasting and repainting of all steel on the bridge, repairs to structural steel and welds inside the beams, replacement of the top rails to meet current codes, replacement of expansion joints, and embankment repairs beneath the bridge.
Also, the city and the Village Business Improvement District have cooperated to add aesthetic upgrades to the bridge that were recommended as part of the for the Village.
This work includes placing a sign on the bridge, naming it to "create an identity," installing a more aesthetically pleasing lighting system that will compliment the street lights in the Village, and mounting scaled-up lighting under the bridge to help make it stand out as a safe place for pedestrians and cyclists.
Questions about the project may be directed to project manager Phil Pyne, 414-479-8930, or construction engineer Joe Marks, 414-479-8931.
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