De Pere mayor breaks bridge tie The current Claude Allouez Bridge (photo by H. Marc Larson) Patti Zarling News-Chronicle Despite pleas from a packed auditorium that De Pere residents prefer two bridges crossing the Fox River, the De Pere City Council on Tuesday narrowly favored a single four-lane span. The decision follows more than two years of studies, discussions and meetings about the best way to replace the aging Claude Allouez Bridge. The state Department of Transportation and consultants helped the city develop two scenarios, either a single four-lane bridge built south of the Claude Allouez, or two two-lane crossings, with one built south of the current bridge and the other at the same spot as the Claude Allouez. Council members who favored the two-bridge option said it would better retain the small-town feel of downtown De Pere, particularly on the east side. They said two bridges would prevent a freeway bridge with huge intersections from plundering the downtown. They also said two bridges would be kinder to pedestrians. Those who supported the single bridge option mentioned cost and construction time. A single span likely will cost the city $1.8 million less than two bridges, and will save more parking in the downtown. Construction time also will be shortened. A single bridge could be up and running by November 2006, according to state consultants. It would take till 2008, however, for two new bridges to be completed and opened to traffic. Neither option would close traffic from crossing the Fox River in De Pere. Council members voting in favor of a four-lane bridge were Kathy Van Vonderen, Richard Peters, Jim Hooyman and Michael Donovan. Those voting against the measure were Michael Fleck, Paul Kegel, Donald Thyes and Jerome Daanen. Mayor Michael Walsh broke the tie vote by casting a vote in favor of the single four-lane bridge option. Tied to his support was the concept of a double-lane roundabout on the east side to control traffic, with a possible smaller-scale roundabout on the west side. "Basically I feel it best keeps our downtown the way it is, while providing two-way traffic on streets on the west side," Walsh said.