Monday, May 1, 2023

?,?,1985 US-18 Wells Street Bridge over Milwaukee River in Milwaukee, WI

(Bridge Hunter broke Mar 22, 2023; Satellite)

Street View, Aug 2017

It looks like there is another power plant in the background to the right of the big smokestack.
Paul Rabenhorst posted
A large freighter is towed through the open Wells Street bridge on the Milwaukee River. The Milwaukee Electric Company, now the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, is on the right.
Milwaukee, 1937.
Dan Roadt: What was north of this location that would need a ship?
Bob Schoultz: Dan Roadt Just a guess but I would say either a grain or cement freighter
 whatever it was, it is riding high so it is empty
Chuck Westerman: Dan Roadt Coal yards.
Cheryl Ann: These ships were still being towed on the river late 50's.
Jake Jakoubek: I spent fall '66 through spring '79 in Milwaukee living more or less downtown and never once saw those bridges lift. Disappointed but only in retrospect.
Chuck Westerman: Back in the early 1970's a friend and I saw the Wisconsin Ave. bridge about to go up and decided to ride up with it. Had to hang on tight to the railing, but managed to go up and down without falling. A cop had been called by the other pedestrians and was waiting for us. Gave us a stern lecture but couldn't think of any law we broke.
Paul Rabenhorst shared

414 Milwaukee Mil Town posted
"TIGHT SQUEEZE".  Two steam tugs tow lake freighter ANGELINE backwards & downstream in the Milwaukee River through the opened Wells Street Bridge in downtown Milwaukee, April 8, 1937.  Tug in foreground is W.H. MEYER.
Note the Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light building at right, now home of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater Company, adjacent to the Pabst Theater.  Photo:  Milwaukee Public Library/ Wis. Marine Historical Society.
Sue Skustad: See the little house bottom left of this picture, my dad worked in this building as a bridge tender. The bridge was maned 24/7. The men had 8 hour shifts. All automated now. He retired 1970.
Nick Doney: Sue Skustad it isn’t automated, there are a number of in-person bridge operators on the river who communicate with boats below. Often the bridge operators work more than one bridge at a time though, using cameras and remote controls.
Adam Kelnhofer: Sue Skustad This story has some good background info on how the Milwaukee bridges are managed: https://www.jsonline.com/.../what-we-know.../7875058001/

That power plant now has four theaters.
3D Satellite
"Performing arts venue with 4 theaters including a 2,300-seat hall & an intimate outdoor stage."

This crossing has had at least three bridges.
pinterest, 1905

OnMilwaukee
It reopened Nov 30, 2018, after being closed nine months for rehabilitation. This bridge was built in 1985.

The rehabilitation added "bike plates" and railings between the sidewalk and traffic lanes.
Street View, Nov 2022

benesch
"The [rehabilitation] project replaced several mechanical, electrical and hydraulic components, in addition to bridge control system upgrades which allow for remote operation. Roadway approaches were reconstructed and sidewalks and curb ramps were replaced to meet ADA compliance standards....Virtually every structural component of the project required customized design and fabrication methods in order to properly size, fit and install rehabilitated structural machinery. An innovative process for machining and modifying certain elements, rather than replacing them with new parts, reduced potential costs and production lead times."

No comments:

Post a Comment