St. Paul Avenue Bridge project complete, re-opens to traffic

MILWAUKEE -- It's not Milwaukee's biggest or most traveled bridge, but for people who live and work near it, the re-opening of the St. Paul Avenue Bridge is a welcome sight.  



Mayor Tom Barrett and other city officials will hold a ribbon cutting at 3 p.m. Wednesday when the brigde officially opens to traffic.



It is the city's first vertical lift bridge and has been closed for more than nine months.



During that time, crews have replaced the aging steel lift span, a concrete deck, added pedestrian railings and much more.



All of the work for the project is finished on schedule.



Businesses say the busy bridge is a main gateway from the west for people to easily access the Historic Third Ward.



Paul Schwartz, operation and communication manager with the Milwaukee Public Market, said the timing couldn't be more perfect.



\"With Summerfest getting nearly a million visits over the course of a year... But with the ethic festivals down here.\"



The rain did cancel a number of celebratory activities scheduled before the official bridge re-opening.