Racine County Residents Welcome Start of Construction on Highway BD Bridge After Five-Month Closure
Construction has officially begun on the County Highway BD bridge in Racine County, Wisconsin, five months after its closure in mid-April due to a significant culvert failure. Residents in Dover, Wisconsin, are now observing visible progress on the repairs. The closure has necessitated lengthy detours for local residents, including Larry Neau, who lives adjacent to the bridge and has seen his travel time to nearby destinations triple. Another resident, John Korndoerfer, noted that the closure cuts off a direct route to Highway 11, impacting daily commutes to gas stations, restaurants, and family visits. The Racine County Highway Department estimates the bridge could reopen by mid-November, weather permitting. The project is described as complex, involving redesigning the culvert, utility coordination, environmental and wetland reviews, permitting, and coordination with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and other agencies. The manufacturing of the replacement culvert, which is approximately 10 f...