A recent inspection of the Eddy Street bridge, which is owned by Union Pacific, identified structural flaws. Immediate weight restrictions have been imposed on bridge traffic, and the bridge will be closed to all vehicular traffic the week of May 19, 2025. We understand that the closure will impact nearby neighborhoods.

It also immediately impacts Eau Claire Transit bus routes, because the weight restrictions prevent bridge use by our Transit busses. The closure impacts Transit Routes 4 (Locust Lane)  and Transit Route 3/4 (North High School/Locust Lane Combination), which serve the Mt. Simon neighborhood. Our Transit Division is working to ensure continued coverage for those residents.

For riders in the Mt. Simon area, please check for updates prior to taking your trip in the next few days by visiting Transit's Facebook page or calling 715-839-5120. Also, stops affected by any service changes will have notices posted.

As shared in the January 17, 2025 weekly newsletter from the City Manager, the bridges are privately owned by Union Pacific/Chicago North Western Railway. Due to the bridges’ private ownership, they are not eligible for State funding like Local Roads Improvement Program (LRIP), Local Bridge Improvement Assistance Program, or Surface Transportation Program (STP).

Updates on the bridges and steps being taken by Eau Claire Transit to maintain service to residents in the Mt. Simon area, watch our Facebook page for updates and bookmark this page for additional updates.

See the full News Release with additional details on this topic in our website News Section.