Hawley viaduct is all it's cracked up to be

July 10, 2006 -- The brand new re-surfaced Hawley Rd. viaduct, opened in both directions this month after a long construction period, is very prematurely cracking in several areas. In a few spots, small pieces of concrete already have chipped away.

The bridge reconstruction, estimated before construction at $3.75 million, was part of a larger Hawley Rd. project.

Just when you thought construction was over...
Hawley Rd. Bridge decking coming up!
Lower bridge to be torn down

Oct. 22, 2004 -- The Hawley Rd. bridge will be re-decked this summer, wrecking the fantasies of Story Hill residents who thought their road construction nightmares were over when Bluemound Rd. re-opened last month.

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, meanwhile, is planning to tear out the lower Hawley Rd. bridge that leads to the municipal warehouse this winter as part of the MMSD's flood control efforts.

The lower Hawley Rd. Bridge will be torn out and the main bridge supports will be repaired.

The main bridge will retain the same really scary design that pedestrians and bicyclists have every reason to dread. The good news is the bridge will be less likely to rip out the undercarriages of cars or wreck bicycle tires and frames.

The bridge will be stripped down to its girders and rebuilt from there, according to Craig Liberto, structural design manager for the Department of Public Works.

"The steel will stay," he said.

The Hawley Rd. bridge will be redecked, not redesigned. The design will still stink for bicyclists and pedestrians. Make sure you run across the exit lane to continue on the eastern sidewalk, or you may be smacked by a speeding auto.

The deteriorating supports underneath will be repaired, he said.

The project is expected to cost more than $3 million.

After it's all done, there should be a little bit less bounce in the bridge, which may help hold it together longer this time around, Liberto said.