What’s The Latest News On The Bong Bridge Project? Here’s An Update As Of May 29

The two-year Bong Bridge project kicked off just a little under a month ago.  So what's been going on?

A quick drive to the barricades shows that the work crews have been busy removing the roadway that leads up to the bridge on the Wisconsin side.  Wisconsin Department of Transportantion also informs us that they have been removing bridge deck joints.  A subcontractor has also been performing work on the underside of the bridge.

Currently, the west-bound route of the Bong Bridge is closed to all traffic.  Drivers can expect that side of the bridge to be totally closed off until the beginning of November 2014. This is also the timeline for the expected DTA bus route detour;  Riders who wish to get to West Duluth via the DTA will have to expect the detour over the Blatnik Bridge.

In 2015,  the work will move to the other side of the bridge, affecting east-bound/Superior-bound traffic - with a total closure on that side expected to begin sometime in the spring.

When it's done in the fall of 2015, the $18.2 million dollar project will accomplish the following:

Bong Bridge work

• Overlay existing bridge deck and make necessary repairs to the sidewalk
• Replace and repair arch components and repaint
• Replace existing expansion joints and repaint girder ends
• Replace street lights and ship navigation lights

Wisconsin approach

• Construct a modern roundabout at Belknap St./ US 2 intersection
• Add local access connection to US 2 for North Garfield Ave. (City Industrial Park)
• Bridge deck overlay of the Susquehanna overhead bridge
• Replace roadway lighting
• Replace existing concrete pavement