BLACK EARTH (WKOW) -- Commuters and local residents who normally use Highway 14 to get through Black Earth will have to wait until at least November before two washed out bridges are replaced.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is hopeful contracts can be awarded be the end of this week so replacement work can begin before the snow flies, according to Brenda Shoenfeld, a Supervisor for WISDOT.
Bids are expected by the end of the week and either one company will be awarded a contract for both bridges or two companies will be hired, each taking the task of replacing one of the bridges, according to Schoenfeld.
Full replacement will be necessary which means removing debris from the destroyed bridges before construction can begin.
Both HWY 14 bridges were wiped out following the record rainfall this past August which flooded Black Earth Creek and inundated most of Black Earth and other surrounding communities.