GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A federal grant of $34 million will help pay for renovations to a key railroad bridge across the Fox River.
The Luxemburg Swing Bridge crosses the Fox River just north of downtown Green Bay, and south of the Leo Frigo Bridge. Built in 1923, it is operated by the Fox Valley and Lake Superior Rail System, also called FOXY, and carries 25,000 carloads of freight annually.
The cost of the project has skyrocketed to a total of $42.5 million since FOXY received a planning grant in 2023, when the estimated cost was $6.8 million, according to Ken Lucht, assistant vice president of government affairs for Watco, which operates FOXY.
Mechanical, structural, and electrical systems have continued to deteriorate, while the cost of steel, concrete, and other supplies have risen, Lucht told FOX 11.
FOXY will pay for 20% of the repairs, with the federal grant covering the rest. FOXY will be responsible for operation and maintenance costs moving forward.
The improvements will help eliminate frequent service interruptions to freight rail and maritime commerce and allow the bridge to accommodate railcars weighing up to 286,000 pounds.
Construction is expected to start in spring and take two years. The bridge will continue to operational throughout the renovations, Lucht said.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin issued a statement about the funding, which comes, in part, from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“Wisconsin businesses rely on our railways and waterways to get their Made in Wisconsin products to customers across the country,” said Senator Baldwin. “But when aging infrastructure causes delays and disruptions, it hurts our businesses, costs them time and money, and makes it harder for them to compete. That’s why I’m proud to bring home this investment to repair and modernize this critical bridge, keep folks safe, and make sure Wisconsin businesses have the reliable infrastructure they need to grow and succeed.”
FOXY continues engineering and design work on two other Fox River bridge crossings: one between Allouez and Green Bay, near the Georgia-Pacific mill, and one on the east end of the flats in Appleton.
FOXY expects to apply for federal grants to help pay for those projects, as well, Lucht said.
