Historic Bridges of the U.S. | Wisconsin Avenue Viaduct

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Photos

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South Face

This is the original 10 span bridge that carried Wisconsin Avenue over the Menomonee Valley. It was replaced with a new 8 span arch viaduct in 1993.

The lower bridge carried Bluemound Road. It has been replaced by an UCEB.

From the collections of the Milwaukee Public Museum, used with permission

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Same View, July 2008

The lower bridge carried Bluemound Road. It has been replaced by an UCEB that is hidden by the underbrush.

Photo taken by J.R. Manning in July 2008

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Oblique View North Side

Photo taken by J.R. Manning in July 2008

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Underneath

Looking east.

Photo taken by J.R. Manning in July 2008

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The West Abutment

The street is N 44th St.

Photo taken by J.R. Manning in July 2008

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The South Face

Looking west. The lower bridge in the foreground is the UCEB that replaced the arch bridge, seen in the historical photo, that carries Bluemound Road.

Photo taken by J.R. Manning in July 2008

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Typical Arch

Looking east. Bluemound Road continues up the ramp and merges into eastbound Wisconsin Avenue at the east portal of the bridge. To the left is a truck parking and staging area for Miller Brewing.

Photo taken by J.R. Manning in July 2008

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Looking North

Looking north into Miller Valley.

The residential area in this part of the Menomonee Valley is known as Pigsville. It was formed by mostly Slavic immigrants and took its name from a pig farm that was on the west side of the river in the 19th Century. It is a well maintained neighborhood.

Just to the south, and west (behind and to the left) of the camera position were several quarries. The most famous, owned by the Story family, is now the location of the north parking lot of Miller Park.

Photo taken by J.R. Manning in July 2008

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The East Abutment

The stairway leads up to the viaduct's pedestrian walkway.

Photo taken by J.R. Manning in July 2008

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The Deck

Looking west.

Photo taken by J.R. Manning in July 2008

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The Government Plaque

Photo taken by J.R. Manning in July 2008

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The West Portal

The government plaque, shown above, is mounted on the northwest pillar, seen on the left.

Photo taken by J.R. Manning in July 2008

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The South Face of the Old Bridge

Looking northeast across Pigsville. On the right edge of the photo is the new UCEB that carries Bluemound Road across the CNRR and into the Menomonee Valley.

The homes were demolished with the old bridge, to make room for the new bridge.

HAER Photo 1987

View this photo at memory.loc.gov

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South Face Detail

More of the Pigsville homes that were destroyed when the new bridge was built.

HAER Photo 1987

View this photo at memory.loc.gov

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Menomonee River

Looking northwest.

HAER Photo 1987

View this photo at memory.loc.gov

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Same view, 2008

The new arch over the Menomonee River, looking northwest.

Photo taken by J.R. Manning in July 2008

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Looking East

The viewpoint is the road that led down to the now-destroyed homes. The third arch in the view, just beyond the railing, is the truck parking and staging area shown above.

HAER Photo 1987

View this photo at memory.loc.gov

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Oblique View, Looking West

Bluemound Road comes up from the valley and merges into eastbound Wisconsin Avenue, just to the right of the camera position.

HAER Photo 1987

View this photo at memory.loc.gov

Map

Vicinity Map

Vicinity map

Map links:

Facts

Overview: Arch bridge over N 44th Street, CNRR, Menomonee River, N 39th Street, Miller Brewing Co. on US 18/W Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee
Location: Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
Status: Open to traffic
History: Built 1993, Replaced 10 span open spandrel arch viaduct
Builder: - Lunda Construction Co.
Design: Arch
Dimensions: Length of largest span: 158.1 ft.
Total length: 1,457.4 ft.
Deck width: 58.1 ft.
Recognition: Eligible for the National Register of Historic Places
Approximate latitude, longitude: +43.03880, -87.96655 (decimal degrees)
43°02'20" N, 87°57'60" W (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates: 16/421267/4765576 (zone/easting/northing)
USGS topographic map: Milwaukee
Inventory number: BH 36928 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Inspection (as of 06/2007): Deck condition rating: Fair (5 out of 9)
Superstructure condition rating: Satisfactory (6 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Satisfactory (6 out of 9)
Sufficiency rating: 87.4 (out of 100)
Average daily traffic (as of 2005): 14,970

Update Log

July 28, 2008: New photo from J.R. Manning
July 27, 2008: New photos from J.R. Manning
July 24, 2008: Added by J.R. Manning

Sources

J.R. Manning - thekitchenguy [at] sbcglobal [dot] net
Lunda Construction Company - Description of the bridge project.
Structurae International Database and Gallery of Structures. - Wisconsin Avenue Viaduct entry on Structurae.

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