In 2019, MSA partnered with the City of Janesville to replace the existing 7^th Street Green Bridge, a three-span steel truss bridge with steel beam approach spans over the Cedar River. Originally constructed in 1930, the bridge was in a state of disrepair with restrictive vertical and lateral clearances and a posted 10-ton weight limit. It was time for a replacement — a project of great size and complexity.

Former three-span bridge over the Cedar River.

Janesville straddles both Bremer and Black Hawk counties, with 7^th Street serving as a key connection route between communities. The bridge accommodates an average of 1,800 vehicles per day and is surrounded by a mixture of residential, industrial, and rural agricultural property, with the east end of the bridge located less than 300 feet from the intersection with Main Street. After experiencing years of age and inspection concerns, the DOT and City agreed it was time to replace the bridge with something slightly longer, wider, and safer — without the restrictive overhead structure of the prior bridge design.

During construction of the new five-span bridge.

MSA bridge engineers designed a 501-foot-long, 30-foot-wide, five-span pre-tensioned prestressed concrete beam bridge supported on cap and column piers with drilled shafts founded in bedrock. Approximately 300 feet of existing roadway approaches were replaced as well, and the resulting structure has no posted weight limit, which is an immense improvement for the many heavy vehicles and large agricultural equipment that prefer to utilize this route.

The project also includes street lighting, storm sewer installation, a separated 6-foot-wide pedestrian/bicycle path on the bridge, and construction of a new 8-foot-wide recreational trail on the north side that connects to an existing sidewalk along Main Street. To accommodate this work, extensive coordination with private utilities was required to relocate utilities in conflict. Additional right of way was acquired from adjacent landowners to construct project improvements.

Construction began in January of 2023 and was completed in December 2023, allowing the DOT to utilize this stretch of 7^th Street as an emergency detour route for upcoming construction work on IA 218.

The City of Janesville and project partners celebrated the grand re-opening of the bridge on December 15, 2023, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and parade across the new structure led by local police and fire personnel.