Ripon is moving toward replacement of its Pacific Street bridge over Silver Creek after receiving $1,607,940 in state funding through Wisconsin’s Local Small Structure Improvement Program.
City Administrator Adam Sonntag said the grant covers 90% of eligible costs for the bridge project, with the city responsible for the remaining 10%. The city’s total project estimate was listed at about $1.79 million.
The bridge is Ripon’s lowest-rated local bridge, scoring a 2 on a 10-point scale during engineering evaluations conducted between 2023 and 2025. Those evaluations cited severe corrosion and section loss in the steel girders. Engineers also recommended closure of the sidewalk and a portion of the roadway in 2025 due to the condition of structural members.
For contractors watching this project, the reported problem list reads like a checklist of real-world constraints on a small-bridge job. The bridge sustained vehicle impact damage to its railing, and the city installed temporary concrete barriers that reduce usable width. Evaluators also flagged deterioration of the concrete deck and masonry abutments, along with erosion and scour at the crossing and the bridge’s narrow geometry.
That mix of issues matters for masonry crews involved in abutment work on bridge replacements. Deteriorated masonry at the ends of a bridge ties directly to stability at the bearing areas, and scour and erosion signal that earthwork and water-related conditions stay front and center during construction planning and staging.
Ripon’s award is one of 101 projects funded statewide, part of $29.98 million awarded from 430 applications that requested a combined $133.7 million. The bridge replacement is scheduled for 2027 or 2028, and the city also plans to evaluate Pacific Street and underlying utilities as the project moves forward.
Read the full, original article from Ripon Commonwealth Press here.