Swan Boulevard bridge to be demolished this weekend

WAUWATOSA (WITI) -- The Swan Boulevard bridge over Highway 45 is set to be closed and demolished this weekend. It's all part of the plan to rebuild the massive Zoo Interchange.

According to the Department of Transportation, Swan Blvd., southbound over Highway 45, will be closing on Saturday, August 17th through fall 2013. Access to northbound Swan Blvd. from Watertown Plank Rd. will remain until early October.

Swan Blvd. will be reconstructed from east of Highway 45 to Watertown Plank Rd. When Swan Blvd. is complete, it will no longer join the exit/entrance ramps at Highway 45.

As a result of this project, the Park & Ride lot located at the north side of Watertown Plank Rd. at Highway 45 will be closed in the coming weeks. The lot on the south side of Watertown Plank Rd. will remain open until later this year when the construction of the Watertown Plank Rd. intersection is underway.

"I would just say, 'Stay patient.' Sometimes, things have to get a little bit worse, before they get better, and if we gotta go through a few speed bumps along the way, it's all for the greater good," said Sean Race of the Department of Transportation.

Race explains the Swan Blvd. bridge must be removed so the boulevard's new alignment can be constructed by a December 21st deadline. And it's not just Swan Blvd. which will be affected -- as Highway 45 will need to be closed twice this weekend.

CLICK HERE for the latest information on the Zoo Interchange project.