Brown shares conditions of bridges
By Bert Lehman
The Memorial Bridge in the city of Clintonville was vandalized the last week of August.
Clintonville Public Works Director Kray Brown informed the Clintonville Street Committee about the vandalism at its Sept. 5 meeting.
Brown said “raunchy” material was painted on and underneath the bridge.
“We ended up painting the concrete,” Brown said. “It was very significant. It took about two hours (to complete the work).”
He added that it cost the city around $300 to paint over the vandalism.
Main Street Bridge
Brown also informed the committee that he and Alderman Jim Supanich met a couple of weeks ago with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation inspector and maintenance manager, as well as Waupaca County’s maintenance manager to inspect the bridges in the city of Clintonville.
Brown said he asked the DOT staff many questions about the cracks forming in the concrete on the Main Street Bridge. This bridge was replaced just two years ago.
“We wanted to see what the response was from that DOT inspector,” Brown said.
The response from the inspector was that concrete in new bridges does crack, Brown said.
“But this to me, down on Main Street, seems a little bit beyond what should be happening in a two-year timeframe,” Brown told the committee. “And we really didn’t get anywhere with the DOT.”
The city is responsible for the maintenance of the bridge, Brown said.
Recently the city had the cracks on the bridge crack-filled by Waupaca County. The bridge was also sealed.
More crack-filling may be required next year, Brown said.
Brown said he was told by the DOT inspector that crack-filling and sealing the bridge is the best maintenance to solve the problem, and that the maintenance should last three years.
“My past experiences, it doesn’t last very long,” Brown said.
Hemlock Street Bridge
There are some maintenance issues regarding the Hemlock Street Bridge.
Brown said there are some hollow spots on the bridge.
“That’s something that we’re going to have to watch very closely,” Brown said.
There is also some breakage involving the expansion joint of the bridge. This will be repaired before winter, Brown said.
Lion Street Bridge
Brown said the Lion Street Bridge is in good condition. He added that the bridge is also a good candidate to have an epoxy seal placed on it to help maintain it for the long term.
“When you look at bridges, putting $20,000 to $25,000 into it over the next quite a few years, 10, 15, 20 years, it’s going to save us (money versus replacing bridges),” Brown said.