There were five crashes into the I-94 overpass at Gen. Mitchell Blvd. through early August, compared to seven during all of last year.

Semi-trucks semi-regularly plow into the structure because it is too low for them to pass under.

Dennis Shook, spokesman for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, called the semi-trailer shaving collisions “minor accidents,” which may be fine for him, but probably seems really, really short of the mark to those truck drivers who snap back from whatever daydreams they’ve been having to hear the sounds of their trailers being peeled open and their jobs perhaps circling the drain.

“The bridge is inspected after every incident,” Shook said. “Our bridge expert says that the bridge is structurally sound because it is made of concrete and does not have the same typical girder structure as most modern bridges. That bridge was erected in 1959.”

Shook noted that WisDOT has put up all sorts of signs warning truck drivers of the low bridge.

County officials have said they have discussed with WisDOT the possibility of rebuilding Mitchell Blvd. in a way to end the crashes. Shook, though, said “No one here is aware of any past or present conversations about that.”