Bridge under repair collapses in Oconomowoc, officials announce corrective action plan

Updated: April 27, 2026

OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The City of Oconomowoc and state Department of Transportation announced corrective actions planned Monday, after the partial collapse of the Lapham Street Bridge, which had been under repair.

Officials say the partial collapse occurred after a bracket supporting a temporary beam beneath the concrete deck failed. 

They say a mitigation plan has now been implemented, including a comprehensive safety reinspection, a doubled support system for the concrete deck, and a full environmental review and localized cleanup plan with the DNR. 

Any residents who find debris on their property are asked to contact the local Department of Public Works office directly at 262-569-2189 to arrange for collection and disposal. 

The Oconomowoc River remains closed to all traffic at Lapham Street for public safety and cleanup crews. 

Posted: April 25, 2026

OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (CBS 58) - A bridge collapse Saturday afternoon in Oconomowoc left crews facing a major cleanup and rebuild after a Department of Transportation (DOT) repair project came crashing down.

The Lapham Street Bridge collapsed Saturday afternoon, sending debris into the river.

Crews arrived within 15 minutes and worked to clear the wreckage, officials said.

What began as a DOT project to repair the bridge ended in failure after temporary supports gave way.

“The concrete and everything fell. They were close to almost being completely done and the whole thing just fell in the water,” nearby resident Rose Lowling said.

Residents said they noticed problems before the collapse.

“We had seen the dip in the concrete from the false beam that had failed,” nearby resident Christopher Kurtz said.

Oconomowoc Mayor Matt Rosek said the damage began after temporary support under the bridge failed earlier in the week.

“Falsework underneath that bridge had failed on Monday, which led to some of the concrete spill. Workers were working over the week to break out that concrete. That concrete ultimately collapsed and fell through and the beams obviously failed,” he said.

Mayor Rosek said the project was part of a plan to replace a narrow, aging structure.

“The old Lapham Street Bridge was beyond its useful life. It was a single lane only, and we’ve expanded that to get access both ways,” he said.

Not all residents supported the project.

“It is an unwanted upgrade, I think. I was telling other folks it seems a bit excessive,” Kurtz said.

The bridge had been expected to reopen in September, but officials now say the timeline is uncertain as crews continue clearing damage and assessing the next steps.