CHETEK, Wis. (WJMC) — A project to rehabilitate Chetek’s Long Bridge is planned for the spring and summer of 2026.
Built in 1972, with a new concrete deck installed in 1991, the Wisconsin DOT says repairs and maintenance are now needed on the road deck, piers, abutments, railings and sidewalk. This work will extend the life of the bridge and save tax dollars, WisDOT said.
Project engineers plan to detour traffic via County Highway M, Highway 8 and County Highway SS, during the bridge project.
The Chetek Chamber of Commerce says an extended detour is unacceptable and they are petitioning to keep one lane open during the project.
“I think the biggest concern is emergency services. An 18-mile detour is not acceptable to wait for a fire truck, ambulance, or police car. I would guess about half an hour,” said Jennifer Blatz with the chamber. “The question has been asked several times, why can’t we just park a firetruck or ambulance on the other side of the bridge? We don’t have enough equipment or manpower to do that.
“I don’t think anyone is disagreeing that we need to repair the bridge. It just needs to be one lane at a time for emergency services. The economic impact on our businesses will be horrible if they close it completely.”
The chamber is asking people to sign petitions to change the project. Those are at Chetek businesses.
WisDOT is hosting a virtual public meeting on Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. The chamber wants residents to login to the meeting and raise their concerns.
Visit the Chetek Chamber’s Facebook page or webpage, explorechetek.com, for links and information on how to watch or call into to the meeting.