Engineer presents plan for replacement of Kemp Street Bridge in 2028

With the City of Rhinelander’s announcement last Thursday afternoon that the Kemp Street Bridge would be closed this week, so that soil boring work could be completed, local residents got an early taste of what’s to come in the summer of 2028 when one of the city’s main thoroughfares will be unavailable for several months.
On Feb. 16, Ryan Schaitel of Ayres Associates, the consulting firm hired by the city for the bridge design work, presented the replacement plans to residents during a public involvement meeting. The existing bridge, constructed in 1956, has been rated structurally deficient with a score of 49.7 out of 100 on state bridge evaluations, he explained.
“Anything that’s below a 50 on the scale doesn’t mean it’s unsafe, necessarily. It just means it’s eligible to be replaced,” he noted. The bridge has received federal funding for replacement due to significant deterioration including rust, scaling, cracking, and corrosion in the rebar.
The proposed replacement will maintain the same three-span design with two piers in the water, but will use pre-stressed concrete girders instead of the existing steel girders. The driving width will remain 30 feet between the sidewalk and railing.
A major change involves sidewalk configuration. The current bridge has five-foot sidewalks on both sides, but the new design will eliminate the south sidewalk and create a 12-foot-wide multi-use path on the north side of the bridge.

“We felt there wasn’t a need for a sidewalk on the south side of the bridge. It doesn’t currently go anywhere,” he noted, adding that the wider north sidewalk could eventually connect to trail systems west of the bridge.
The bridge will shift approximately 15 feet to the west of its current location to avoid existing foundation piles and provide better working space during construction.
Planners propose relocating the existing crosswalk on the east end of the bridge, which many attendees described as dangerous due to limited sight distance and heavy traffic. Instead of crossing Kemp Street at that location, the new design would feature two shorter crossings—one across Boyce Drive and another near Riek Street.
Several residents voiced concerns about speeding traffic on Kemp Street, particularly during peak hours between 3 and 6 p.m. when vehicles accelerate as Highway 8 transitions to Kemp Street through the city.
“I call Kemp Street ‘Kemp Street 500’ between three and six o’clock at night because the person doesn’t stand a chance,” said one resident who lives near the bridge, suggesting flashing lights or other traffic calming measures at the new crosswalks.
City representatives acknowledged these concerns and indicated they would discuss potential solutions with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
The construction timeline calls for a complete closure of Kemp Street to through traffic for approximately four months during summer 2028, likely beginning in June. Local traffic will still have access to properties, but the Boyce Drive intersection will be closed due to its proximity to the construction site.
Heavy truck traffic will be detoured along Highway 8 and County G (Oneida Ave.), though officials acknowledged that local commuters will likely seek alternate routes through residential neighborhoods.
“That’s definitely a valid concern, because outside traffic, you’re gonna see detour, they’re gonna take it, but you’re going to have all local traffic that moves the shortcut around the city,” Schaitel said.
Several residents expressed worry about increased traffic on narrow residential streets like Bruns Drive, which currently has parking on both sides. One resident suggested implementing temporary parking restrictions during construction to accommodate the anticipated traffic flow.
Fire department access also emerged as a concern, with officials noting the need to ensure emergency vehicles can navigate any barricades or closures.
The project requires acquisition of some permanent right-of-way and temporary construction easements from properties adjacent to the bridge. Property owners will be contacted for negotiations after the design is finalized, with appraisals conducted before any purchases are made.
The project timeline includes:
Final public input deadline: March 2, 2026
Right-of-way acquisition: Later in 2026
Design completion: August 2027
Utility relocation: Late 2027
Bridge construction: Summer 2028 (approximately four months)