Green Bay's Leo Frigo Bridge to reopen in January

GREEN BAY (WITI) -- The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) announced on Tuesday, October 22nd, a plan to repair the Leo Frigo Bridge that would allow the bridge to reopen in January 2014. The bridge has been closed since September 25, 2013, when Pier 22 unexpectedly sank two feet.

During a news conference at WisDOT’s Northeast Region office on Tuesday, WisDOT Secretary Mark Gottlieb announced a construction plan that calls for the permanent repairs to be completed by January 17, 2014. He said the bridge will reopen to traffic sometime in January if the repairs proceed as planned.

State engineers announced that Pier 22 sank as the result of corrosion to the pier’s pilings due to the unique soil conditions surrounding them. These same conditions are found from Pier 21 to 25 and all of these piers will be repaired.

New pilings will be installed at the bases of the five piers and will be protected from the corrosive soil conditions. WisDOT will then install temporary support towers on either side of Pier 22 to prevent any further sagging and protect workers as they work on the permanent repair. Those towers are expected to be in place by early November. While WisDOT has determined that five piers need this extensive repair, the investigation is also continuing for all of the bridge piers.