After months of delays and headaches for drivers, the 16th Street Bridge reopened — at least partially — Thursday, according to Tiffany Shepherd, marketing and communications officer for the Department of Public Works.
The southern section of the bridge is now open from South 16th and West Pierce streets, restoring access to Canal Street. The change will help drivers easier access the Valley and downtown through West Clybourn Street.
Travel in the area has also been hampered by the full shutdown of the 27th Street Bridge for I-94 West construction, and construction projects near the 35th Street Bridge and on West National Avenue.
The 16th Street Bridge was partially closed to traffic in October and closed fully in December after an in-depth inspection revealed a compromised structural floor beam. Officials originally said it would reopen partially by April before extending the timeline through July. Bad weather and smoke from the wildfires briefly halted construction, delaying the project again and pushing repairs into August, Shepherd said.
Impact on Valley business and employees
Corey Zetts is executive director of Menomonee Valley Partners, which supports public-private collaboration, redevelopment and sustainability efforts in the Menomonee River Valley.
She said there are approximately 125 companies and 7,500 employees in the Valley. The bridge also serves as an access point to the Hank Aaron State Trail.
Zetts said reopening even a partial section of the bridge is a huge relief to businesses in the Valley, especially for residents and employees who have struggled to access it since the closure.
“We’re grateful that businesses and residents have been so patient as multiple projects made access challenging, glad for the partners who worked to get these projects done and opening sections as soon as possible and thrilled for roadways to start reopening to make getting to work and other destinations easier for everyone,” Zetts said.
Impact on Potawatomi
The Valley’s largest employer and company is the Potawatomi Casino Hotel. Many of its estimated 10,000-plus daily patrons and 2,500 team members used the 16th Street Bridge to access the casino’s six-story parking structure.
Sarah Neubauer, community engagement manager for Potawatomi, said the casino is excited that guests will once again have another avenue to access the property once part of the bridge reopens.
She credited the city for providing signage and keeping people informed, and she said the casino worked with Menomonee Valley Partners to stay up to date throughout construction.
“We care deeply about the safety of our community members, Potawatomi Casino Hotel team members, and PCH guests and appreciate the work being done to make sure safety remains a top priority throughout the bridge project,” Neubauer said.
You can learn more about and stay updated on the project here.
Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.
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