OSHKOSH (NBC 26) — A delay in parts for a failed gear box in the Oregon/Jackson Street bridge in Oshkosh is expected to postpone repairs until November, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Bureau of Structures, which provided an update to the repair schedule Thursday afternoon.
WisDOT repairs to the Oregon/Jackson Street bridge were scheduled to begin Monday, Sept. 26. Repairs have now been postponed due to material delays from the manufacture and the manufacture’s distributor. The components to fix the failed gear box were schedule for delivery this week. The manufacturer now anticipates delivery of components by November 11, 2022.
Updated Oregon/Jackson Street bridge repair plan, schedule and cost
• Repair
o Remove old gearbox (finished)
o Manufacturer new gears and realign shaft bores (postponed to Nov. 11)
o Install new parts in gearbox (Postponed to mid-November 2022)
o Reinstall gearbox in bridge (Postponed to mid-November 2022)
• Schedule
o Parts manufacturing: Manufactures failed to deliver by Sept. 24 date. Manufacture given to Nov. 11 to supply necessary repair components.
o Reinstallation and testing: One week after receipt of parts.
o Estimated repair finish and opening of bridge: Mid-November 2022.
• Traffic impacts
o The bridge will remain closed to vehicles and pedestrian traffic during repairs.
o Repairs may also affect passage of marine traffic for brief periods.
• Cost Estimate
o $136,000
The bridge is currently closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic after a bridge inspector discovered damaged gear teeth in the gearbox on the south leaf span during a routine inspection May 25, 2022. A subsequent investigation revealed additional damage in the gearbox that extended the manufacturing process to build the additional parts. The original 9-week repair schedule was extended to 13 weeks in July following discovery of additional damage inside a failed gear box.
Bridge engineers reviewed the excessive wear on the gears and believe a corrupt bearing caused instability in the gearbox resulting in the gear wear. WisDOT investigated gear components on similar bridges and found no issues with gear wear.
