The pedestrian bridge between Humanities and Vilas Hall over University Avenue is scheduled for demolition on Aug. 10 due to its crumbling structure.
Since it was built in 1971, the bridge has been a crossing point between Vilas and the Humanities building for 44 years.
@UWMadison getting rid of the Vilas pedestrian bridge? I believe deterioration is a cause but "a decline in use"? No way is that true.
— Eric Wiig (@itsWiigy) August 4, 2015
Now beyond repair, the bridge would have to be completely replaced in order for it to be safe for students and others to walk across, Gary Brown, director of campus planning and landscape architecture, said. The total cost for replacing the bridge would have been about $1.5 million.
“There is not a lot of money for maintenance work on campus, and with the money we have we want to spend it on other projects instead of replacing a bridge,” he said.
The bridge between Vilas/Humanities is being demolished this week AKA worst news ever as an Art/Film major since I use it EVERY SINGLE DAY
— Katie Cooney (@kt_cooney) August 5, 2015
With the new pedestrian crosswalk light on University Ave, fewer students use the bridge, making the cost of fixing the bridge not worth the extra money, according to a University of Wisconsin statement.
Opening of the Humanities-Vilas bridge. #tbt pic.twitter.com/W0TDOMbIKm
— Nate Moll (@natemoll) August 6, 2015
Due to construction, multiple lane closures are expected during demolition with parts of University Avenue and Frances street being completely closed Wednesday at 8 p.m. till 6 a.m. Thursday.
So I crossed it one last time. Pedestrian bridge over University Ave connecting Vilas HallWPR with the… http://t.co/vEn8RGAc44
— Joy Cardin (@JoyCardin) August 4, 2015
The main part of the bridge will be removed Wednesday, and the places where the bridge had been connected to Vilas and Humanities buildings will be replaced by handrails, Brown said.
Construction is set to be completed by Monday, August 17.
