Under construction bridge partially collapses in Oconowomoc

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After a bridge under construction partially collapsed over the Oconomowoc River, the contractor is picking up the pieces and preparing for another concrete pour.

Part of a bridge project on Saturday collapsed in Oconomowoc and dropped debris into the river under Lapham Street north of Juneau Avenue and south of East Washington Street. It’s the second failure the bridge project has seen in two weeks.

The project is led by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and started construction in February 2026. The bridge is expected to be completed in September.

Members of WisDOT and Neenah-based Pheifer Brothers Construction on Monday inspected the abutments on the ends of the bridge span, said Oconomowoc Mayor Matt Rosek. The project team will carry out a structural analysis and try to pour another concrete slab. No one was injured in the collapse.

On Saturday, a bracket supporting a temporary beam beneath the concrete deck failed and caused a partial collapse of temporary formwork, city of Oconomowoc officials said in a statement.

Pheifer Brothers sent out a boat to clean up debris that might have floated downstream, Rosek said.

The project team will conduct enhanced inspections and double the support system for the concrete deck, city officials said. WisDOT is also coordinating with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for an environmental review and a localized cleanup plan.

On April 20, a falsework beam failed when crews were pouring a new concrete slab for the bridge, city officials said in a social media post. No one was injured during the failure and the waterway below the bridge was closed.

WisDOT officials forwarded an inquiry to the city of Oconomowoc.

The previous Lapham Street bridge was a metal, single-lane bridge around 80 years old, Rosek said. The city applied for the bridge replacement program through WisDOT and was awarded. Pheifer Brothers demolished the old bridge and is building a new concrete bridge with two lanes.

Rosek said the bridge is still expected to be completed in September.

The city aims to have the river open again by Memorial Day and Rosek said he expects the river to be reopened in late May or early June.

The part of the Oconomowoc River under the Lapham Street bridge serves kayakers and boat owners who live on the east side of the bridge. A popular recreation area, the river connects Oconomowoc Lake and Lake Fowler.