10/23/2026
Wisconsin Department Of Natural Resources
Repairs To Great River State Trail’s Tank Creek Bridge Move Forward
A bridge restoration and replacement project on the Great River State Trail is in the final design phase and may begin in summer 2027. Construction work updates can be found on the Great River State Trail webpage.
Work will include replacing the 200-foot-long Tank Creek Bridge, which was severely damaged by a fire in May 2025. There were no injuries reported from the incident, but unfortunately the bridge is a total loss. The bridge and area are currently closed because of the fire damage, and due to location, there is no reroute in place.
The project will construct a replacement bridge for the burned structure and also restore or replace three bridges that provide access to the Tank Creek Bridge. This project was approved by the State Building Commission at their October 2026 meeting.
A portion of the trail will be closed between the Trempealeau trailhead and the Lytle’s Landing trailhead while work is completed. For current conditions of the trail, visit the Great River State Trail webpage.
The public is asked to stay out of all active construction areas. Signs, barricades and fencing marking the perimeter declare the area closed to all public use to ensure public safety during construction. We recognize the popularity of this trail and appreciate the public's cooperation.
North of the project area, a portion of the main channel Black River has run dry this year due to reduced rainfall. However, the current flow pattern of the Tank Creek, a secondary channel of the Black River, remains unchanged from previous years. The bridges included in this construction project on the Great River State Trail are being designed with consideration for withstanding future flood water events.
The Tank Creek Bridge, located approximately three miles east of Trempealeau, was originally built in 1957 as a railroad bridge for the abandoned Chicago-Northwestern railroad line and is over 200 feet long.
The Great River State Trail has 21 bridge structures with over 3,100 linear feet of bridges. Most of these bridges are 100-year-old railroad bridges. The trail is 24 miles long with a crushed limestone surface and extends through the upper Mississippi River valley connecting Trempealeau and Onalaska. The trail also connects to the La Crosse River Trail to the south.
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