The over-75-year-old, 798-foot fracture-critical truss bridge on County Highway M (CTH M), which spans the Chippewa River at Holcombe Flowage (Lake Holcombe), has reached the end of its service life. The structure, Wisconsin’s fifth-longest county bridge, is showing serious signs of deterioration, including buckling truss components, and is currently restricted to a 20-ton weight limit.
This bridge is vital to the local economy and public safety. Its condition is already creating significant hardships for key industries:
- Logging operations in the 35,000-acre Chippewa County Forest are forced to take longer, more expensive routes.
- Dairy farmers face disruptions as milk haulers can no longer cross, increasing costs and complicating operations.
- Tourism-dependent businesses and resorts around the 4,320-acre flowage are struggling with limited access for supply and service trucks.
- Emergency responders and daily commuters experience delays and detours.
While Chippewa County has installed strain gauges and cameras for real-time monitoring to protect public safety, these measures are only temporary.
To keep the project moving forward, the county has already committed $918,000 for design work. The design consultant has completed 30% of the engineering by late 2025, positioning the project to take advantage of any available state or federal funding opportunities.
Replacing this bridge is a top priority for Chippewa County. A long-term solution will likely require a combination of local, state, and federal funding to support local industries, protect public safety, and sustain the region’s economy and quality of life.
Story updated March 2026.
Reinforced Concrete Column
Steel Truss
