86.14 Strength of bridges.
(1) After July 1, 1943, no bridge or culvert shall be constructed in any highway unless it shall be designed to have sufficient strength to carry at least 15 ton truck loading in accordance with standard specifications covering design for structures as adopted by the department and in force at the time of design. Repairs to any bridge or culvert shall be of substantial character, strengthening same as much as practical.
(2) Any person who subjects any bridge or culvert to a load in excess of maximum limitations on weight of vehicles on highways imposed by law or regulations thereunder or limitation as to gross weight of vehicles as posted on or at any such bridge or culvert shall be liable for double the amount of damages that may be caused thereby. There shall be no recovery for any injury to that person or to the property in that person's keeping.
(3) Every person who willfully injures any highway structure shall be liable for treble damages to the subdivision of the state chargeable with the maintenance or repair of such structure.
History: 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (8) (c); 1987 a. 137 s. 6; 1991 a. 316.
The value of a bridge is its value to its owner. Determinative factors include opinion evidence, cost, use, cost of restoration, ease or likelihood of repair, continued usefulness, and the age and condition of the bridge. Town of Fifield v. State Farm Insurance Co. 119 Wis. 2d 220, 349 N.W.2d 684 (1984).
Structure Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 86 - Miscellaneous highway provisions.
86.01 - Materials left in highway; penalty.
86.021 - Highways, cultivation of; injury by farm machinery.
86.022 - Obstructing highway with embankment or ditch.
86.03 - Trees on and adjacent to highway.
86.04 - Highway encroachments.
86.05 - Entrances to highways restored.
86.06 - Highways closed to travel; penalties.
86.07 - Digging in highways or using bridges for advertising.
86.073 - Review of denial of permit.
86.075 - Highway authorities to notify drainage board of highway construction.
86.08 - Dust-free surfacing at licensed dairy or meat packing plants.
86.09 - Access to cemetery preserved.
86.10 - Salvage in highway construction.
86.105 - Snow removal in private driveways.
86.11 - Highways; railroad crossings; grade separation.
86.12 - Highway railroad grade crossings; construction and repair.
86.13 - Railroads to maintain highway crossings.
86.135 - Railroad highway crossings; traffic control.
86.15 - Donations of highway aid to adjoining municipalities.
86.16 - Utility lines on highways; place of poles; penalty.
86.17 - Taking water from highway streams.
86.18 - Milwaukee County highways; location, alteration, maintenance.
86.185 - Populous counties; power over county trunk highways.
86.19 - Highway signs, regulation, prohibition.
86.191 - Advertising in highways prohibited, where.
86.192 - Penalty for injuring guide board, markers, etc.
86.195 - Specific information signs.
86.196 - Tourist-oriented directional signs.
86.20 - Interstate bridge corporations.
86.21 - Interstate toll bridges.
86.22 - Interstate railroad bridges must have convenient approaches.
86.23 - Maintenance of drawbridges owned jointly.
86.25 - Municipal cooperation as to highways improved with state or federal aid.
86.255 - Limitation on moneys used to purchase land remote from highway project.
86.257 - Transfer of highways.
86.30 - General transportation aids.
86.302 - Local roads; inventory.
86.305 - Eligibility for transportation aids.
86.31 - Local roads improvement program.
86.312 - Local roads for job preservation program.
86.315 - County forest road aids.