The Humboldt Bridge is done, so let's start another.

The rehabilitation of the Clybourn Street lift bridge over the Milwaukee River in Downtown Milwaukee begins Monday, July 26 following rush hour traffic.

The bridge will be closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic while remaining open to river navigational traffic at all times. The City of Milwaukee says that access to adjacent parking structures, riverwalk, docks and businesses will be maintained. The project is expected to be completed in June 2011.

The rehabilitation work will include replacement of structural steel components, decking, walkways and railings; replacement of mechanical lifting components (weights, cables, hydraulic lines, etc); upgrade of operating systems; repairs of concrete piers; sandblasting and painting, and associated approach work and street paving.

The movable 72-foot bridge was built in 1968. Due to the harsh river environment and continued deterioration of steel decking and support components, the City of Milwaukee completed emergency repairs work in 2009 and imposed weight and traffic restrictions.

The engineering and plans for the rehabilitation of the Clybourn Street Bridge were accelerated and the city has awarded a construction contract to Zenith Tech Inc., for the project.

All of the $3,956,749 construction cost will be funded by the City of Milwaukee.